The in situ fiber-optic sensor dissolution test of nimodipine tablets produced by different factories

Objective:To monitor the in situ dissolution of nimodipine tablets produced by six factories and to investigate the difference in qualities between the tablets by using fiber-optic sensor dissolution test system FODT-601.Method: Each nimodipine tablet was dissolved in 900 mL of acetate buffer(pH4.5) containing 0.3% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 37℃,and the dissolution was monitored with 2 mm fiber optic probe.The paddle method was used at the rate of 75 r·min-1 and signals were detected at 238 nm against the reference wavelength of 550 nm.Dissolution data were collected every 30 seconds during a 30-min run.Results: The dissolutions of nimodipine tablets produced by all the six factories are qualified to the standards of Chinese pharmacopoeia,but a significant difference was observed in their dissolution curves.Conclusion: The fiber-optic sensor dissolution test system is capable of monitoring the real dissolution process of a drug and supplying more complete and accurate details of the dissolution process,so that the difference in dissolution for the same drug among different manufactories can be detected in situ.