The ability of Broadband Acoustic Resonance Dissolution Spectroscopy (BARDS) to assess the wettability of powder blends is investigated. BARDS is a novel analytical technology developed based on the change in acoustic phenomenon observed when material is added into a solvent under resonance. Addition of solid material to the solvent results in the introduction of gas (air) into the solvent, changing the compressibility of the solvent system and reducing the velocity of sound in the solvent. As a material is wetted and dissolved, the gas is released from the solvent and resonance frequency is altered. The main purpose of this work is to demonstrate the ability of BARDS to assess differences in the wetting behaviour of tablet excipients (microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and magnesium stearate (MgSt)) and a model drug (metoclopramide hydrochloride) as single component powders and multi-component powder blends. BARDS acoustic responses showed a prolonged release of gas for the powdered blends with lubricant compared to un-lubricated blends. As the elimination of gas from the solvent was assumed to follow first order elimination kinetics, a compressible gas elimination rate constant was calculated from the log plots of the gas volume profiles. The gas elimination rate constant was used as a parameter to compare the release of gas from the powder introduced to the solvent and hence the powder wetting behavior. A lower gas elimination rate constant was measured for lubricated blends compared to non-lubricated blends, suggesting the prolonged hydration of lubricated blends. Standard wetting techniques such as contact angle measurements and wetting time analysis were also used to analyze the blends and confirmed differences in wetting behavior determined by BARDS. The study results demonstrate the capability of BARDS as a rapid, analytical tool to determine the wetting behavior of the pharmaceutical powder blends and the potential of BARDS as a process analytical technology (PAT) tool.

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