Seminars

Spatial and Temporal Visualization of Polymorphic Transformations in Pharmaceutical Tablets

Speaker

Iain Oswald
University of Strathclyde

Time and Place

Thursday, 23 October 2025 - 11:00am
CSEC Seminar Room

Abstract 

In this talk, we present the application of X-ray Diffraction Computed Tomography (XRD-CT) to pharmaceutically relevant tablets subjected to varying compression pressures—conditions known to influence intermolecular interactions and crystal packing. By incorporating the pressure-sensitive marker glycolide, we were able to spatially resolve pressure-induced transformations within intact tablets, avoiding artifacts from sample preparation. A follow-up study conducted one month later revealed an in-situ hydrolysis reaction of glycolide, highlighting the dynamic nature of the solid-state environment. The structure of the hydrolysis product was further elucidated using complementary electron diffraction techniques. These findings demonstrate the utility of XRD-CT for uncovering pressure- and time-dependent changes in molecular crystals, with implications for understanding non-covalent interaction networks and their role in the stability and evolution of pharmaceutical formulations.