Combination of Humidity and Thermal Analysis for Determining the Properties of Pharmaceutical Materials
Dr. Roland Wetzel, NETZSCH-Gerätebau GmbH
Water is present almost everywhere: In the surrounding as humidity and in many processing steps as liquid water where it must afterwards be removed. However, interaction of water with drugs and drug products may have an impact on their properties. Therefore, it is crucial to characterize the behavior of APIs and excipients under the influence of water. Combining thermal analysis techniques like simultaneous thermal analysis with a humidity generator allows for determination of the material properties in humid atmospheres. Possible mass changes due to adsorption/absorption or desorption of water can be detected. This improves your understanding of the material with regard to storage stability, processability and handling.
Roland Wetzel studied material sciences at the Friedrich-Schiller University in Jena, Germany. After his master´s degree and two research periods in Finland and Ireland, he specialized in silicate glasses and their characterization using various analytical techniques during his doctorate at the same university. In 2019, he started his career at the headquarters of NETZSCH Analyzing & Testing in Selb, Germany. Currently, he has been working as an application scientist in the Customer Training Department.