A New Validation Methodology for In Silico Tools Based on X-ray Computed Tomography Images of Tablets and a Performance Analysis of One Tool

Abstract

In silico tools which predict the dissolution of pharmaceutical dosage forms using virtual matrices can be validated with virtual matrices based on X-ray micro-computed tomography images of real pharmaceutical formulations. Final processed images of 3 different tablet batches were used to check the performance of the in silico tool F-CAD. The goal of this work was to prove the performance of the software by comparing the predicted dissolution profiles to the experimental ones and to check the feasibility and application of the validation concept for in silico tools. Both virtual matrices based on X-ray micro-computed tomography images and designed by the software itself were used. The resulting dissolution curves were compared regarding their similarity to the experimental curve. The kinetics were analysed with the Higuchi and Korsmeyers–Peppas plot. The whole validation concept as such was feasible and worked well. It was possible to identify prediction errors of the software F-CAD and issues with the virtual tablets designed within the software.

Keywords

• X-microCT
• in silico development
• validation
• formulation development
• dissolution testing
• dissolution prediction