Entrant: Iain Oswald

Copyright: Iain Oswald/Stephen Price

Funding: University of Strathclyde REA Scheme; Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre; Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotro

We investigate the effects of pressure on pharmaceutical tablets using X-ray diffraction Computed Tomography (XRD-CT). During compaction, pharmaceutical materials can undergo changes in their crystal structure which can have adverse effects on tablet manufacture and performance. We "Explore the Unseen" by analysing full pharmaceutical tablets, revealing the spatial distribution of the materials in the tablet and the changes that have occurred during the tabletting process without the destruction of the tablet.