Precise tracking of water ingress through film coated pharmaceutical tablets using terahertz pulsed imaging

Terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) was used to visualize the live liquid penetration process of film-coated pharmaceutical tablets. Multiple features are observed including diffusion through both coating and core layer, with a discontinuity at the core-coating interface. They can be conveniently quantified and related back to the parameters in the manufacturing process. This study has the potential to facilitate a more in-depth understanding of the impact of coating on drug dissolution.