Research Focus
A large fraction of pharmaceutical products are administered as solids. We are interested in the material science of pharmaceutical solids with a specific emphasis on their physical characterization. In drugs and excipients we investigate the polymorphic form, degree of crystallinity, and the nature and extent of interaction with water.
In addition to X-ray powder diffractometry, thermoanalytical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques are used for this purpose. We are specifically interested in monitoring and quantifying phase transitions at various stages of pharmaceutical processing. While the active ingredient is of predominant concern, there are cases where phase transitions of excipients may be of relevance and importance. The goal is to ensure reproducible and predictable performance of solid dosage forms with minimum batch-to-batch variations.