Breakthrough in pharmaceutical production: MIT researchers accelerate particle analysis

A revolutionary development is underway in the world of drug production. A team of MIT scientists has designed a breakthrough technique that significantly accelerates particle size analysis in drying mixtures. This innovation can have a major impact on the efficiency and quality of drug production.

The challenge of particle analysis

Accurately measuring particle size in drying mixtures has been a stumbling block in the pharmaceutical industry for years. So far, there have been two common methods. Counting individual particles in a sample and using scattered light to determine the particle size distribution (PSD). The first approach is time-consuming and leads to waste, making the second option more attractive.

A smart solution

The MIT researchers have developed an intelligent approach that uses both physical principles and machine learning. This method not only improves production processes, but also increases accuracy and reduces batch failures. In a recently published article, the scientists introduce an even faster technique. Qihang Zhang, one of the lead researchers, explains: “We developed a model that can estimate the particle size distribution from a single speckle image. As a result, the analysis time has been reduced from 15 seconds to just 0.25 seconds.”

Industry benefits

This new approach offers several advantages for the pharmaceutical sector. Cost-effective and non-invasive, compatible with existing drying systems, improved process control, higher product quality and the possibility of more in-depth research into dynamic models.

Future perspective

The developed technology opens doors for further research and modelling of particle size evolution. This could lead to even more improvements in production processes and ultimately result in better medicines for patients. This breakthrough is the result of a fruitful collaboration between physicists and engineers within the MIT-Takeda program. It shows how interdisciplinary research can lead to practical solutions to complex industrial challenges. With this innovation, the pharmaceutical industry is taking a big step forward in striving for more efficient and reliable production processes.