 Distribution of Active Ingredients in
Tablets
Apart from the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), tablets contain a series of additional
components ("excipients"). The distribution of APIs and excipients over the tablet influences the
tablets’ effectiveness. The analysis of tablet cross sections with Time-of-Flight Secondary Ions
Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging offers an excellent possibility to study these
distributions.
In the present case, a tablet containing Ibuprofen was embedded in epoxy and cut with a
microtome. The cross section was analyzed with respect to its chemical composition. The results
show that, apart from the API, various excipients could be detected. The first sugar component
forms the matrix for these ingredients. The Ibuprofen lies in this matrix in agglomerates with
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sizes between 50 and 100 µm. The second sugar component is agglomerated in particles with a
size between 50 and 75 µm. The detected fatty acids are distributed relatively homogeneously
over the cross sectioned surface. The finely spread Si containing material indicates the use of an
excipient to improve the flow properties.
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