This article is the second of a series of articles detailing the development of near-infrared (NIR) methods for solid dosage-form analysis. Experiments were conducted at the Duquesne University Center for Pharmaceutical Technology to demonstrate a method for developing and validating NIR models for the analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content and hardness of a solid dosage form. Robustness and cross-validation testing were used to optimize the API content and hardness models. For the API content calibration, the optimal model was determined as multiplicative scatter correction with Savitsky-Golay first-derivative preprocessing followed by partial leastsquares (PLS) regression including 4 latent variables. API content calibration achieved root mean squared error (RMSE) and root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) of 1.48 and 1.80 mg, respectively. PLS regression and baseline-fit calibration models were compared for the prediction of tablet hardness. Based on robustness testing, PLS regression was selected for the final hardness model, with RMSE and RMSECV of 8.1 and 8.8 N, respectively. Validation testing indicated that API content and hardness of production-scale tablets is predicted with root mean square error of prediction of 1.04 mg and 8.5 N, respectively. Explicit robustness testing for high-flux noise and wavelength uncertainty demonstrated the robustness of the API concentration calibration model with respect to normal instrument operating conditions.
Technological advances are motivated, in most cases, for the search for fulfilling a necessity. However, behind of all technological advances, there is at least one person that is developing an adequate technological solution. In this regard, education is a pillar for technological advancements, but also, inspiration, aesthetical appreciation, curiosity, or even the desire to reach a goal. These are reasons why an education that focus on both human and technological aspects is required. With the aim to provide such an education, the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) approach was born. Among the tools used in STEAM-teaching, microcontrollers are basic elements that are affordable for most students. In this chapter, an overview of STEAM education in Mexico and the use of microcontrollers for experimentation under the STEAM philosophy is offered.
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