Q: What techniques are necessary to further examine the intricacies of tablet sticking? How will the results of these techniques be combined to increase knowledge?

The project is exploiting a range of advanced surface analytical techniques to derive chemical and physical data from drug and excipients particles. The work also involves quantitatively mapping adhesion at the nano and micro scale using single drug particles, and links this adhesion data to actual tabletting experiments utilising a range of novel and controllable surface coated tablet punches with well‑defined characteristics. Multivariate analysis and principal component analysis will be used to identify the parameter(s) that influence sticking to form the basis of a model to predict propensity for sticking, based upon these factors. The ongoing use of the advanced techniques employed to collect the data in this research should not be required to implement this prediction in a commercial environment.

Q: Are there any particular areas that the collaboration will focus on?