Integrity of Film-Coated Tablets Deduced from Permeability to Gases
Keywords:
film coating, permeability, coat qualityAbstract
The integrity of film-coated tablets may be a crucial factor for their long-term stability as well as for their desirable action in the digestive tract. Consequently, non-destructive and sensitive tests are very important for quality control of the film-coated tablets. The quasi-stationary permeation of inert gases through the tablets was proposed as a new fast and inexpensive test of the integrity of film-coated tablets. Using the commercial coating material Opadry® and alternative coating materials, the sensitivity to the test of the coating composition and to local damage of the tablets by mechanical stress was demonstrated.