Pharmaceutical Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging

Abstract

Terahertz spectroscopy and imaging have developed rapidly over the past decade as versatile analytical tools for the characterisation of drug delivery systems. In this chapter the technology that has enabled the recent surge of interest in using terahertz techniques is explained in terms of its basic principles and the specific implementations of pharmaceutical relevance. Using a number of examples and case studies an overview of the current state-of-the-art applications of terahertz radiation in pharmaceutics is presented. In the field of spectroscopy this ranges from polymorph detection and quantification, detailed analysis of phase transitions to amorphous stability. Important imaging applications include non-destructive coating thickness measurements, characterisation of the microstructure of tablet matrices as well as liquid transport into tablets during disintegration.