What’s the Solution? Developing an Automated Solubility Detection Device

Format

SOECS Senior Project Demonstration

Abstract/Artist Statement

The physical properties of chemical compounds include their ability to dissolve within a solution. Pharmaceutical companies and research institutions have a vital need to understand the dissolution properties of drugs under development. Knowing the solubility of a candidate drug early in the drug discovery process can validate or eliminate it from further consideration. The shake-flask technique is the current standard for drug solubility measurement. Although it is the convention, the process is tedious, time consuming and requires large amounts of reagent. Although improvements to the shake-flask technique exist, such as multi well assays, they remain very expensive and require extensive preparation. We have developed FlowSol, a device which decreases both the amount of compound and the time necessary to perform solubility tests. The device uses flow-thru agitation and spectrophotometric measurement of a compound. Periodic photometric absorbance readings are acquired at a rate and duration specified by the user through a computer interface. Solubility profiles developed for benzoic acid and furosemide using FlowSol yield similar results to those produced through conventional shake-flask methods. The process of determining a compound’s solubility using FlowSol drastically reduces the time and labor required to perform solubility measurements without sacrificing the integrity of the data.

Location

School of Engineering and Computer Sciences

Start Date

5-5-2007 2:00 PM

End Date

5-5-2007 3:30 PM

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May 5th, 2:00 PM May 5th, 3:30 PM

What’s the Solution? Developing an Automated Solubility Detection Device

School of Engineering and Computer Sciences

The physical properties of chemical compounds include their ability to dissolve within a solution. Pharmaceutical companies and research institutions have a vital need to understand the dissolution properties of drugs under development. Knowing the solubility of a candidate drug early in the drug discovery process can validate or eliminate it from further consideration. The shake-flask technique is the current standard for drug solubility measurement. Although it is the convention, the process is tedious, time consuming and requires large amounts of reagent. Although improvements to the shake-flask technique exist, such as multi well assays, they remain very expensive and require extensive preparation. We have developed FlowSol, a device which decreases both the amount of compound and the time necessary to perform solubility tests. The device uses flow-thru agitation and spectrophotometric measurement of a compound. Periodic photometric absorbance readings are acquired at a rate and duration specified by the user through a computer interface. Solubility profiles developed for benzoic acid and furosemide using FlowSol yield similar results to those produced through conventional shake-flask methods. The process of determining a compound’s solubility using FlowSol drastically reduces the time and labor required to perform solubility measurements without sacrificing the integrity of the data.