The document discusses dissolution testing of pharmaceutical dosage forms. It defines dissolution and explains why it is an important quality control test. It summarizes the various apparatus used for dissolution testing and the types of dosage forms they are suited for. It also provides details about test conditions and acceptance criteria for different dosage forms like immediate release, delayed release, extended release and transdermal delivery systems.

1. Dissolution
Compiled by-Shamon Ahmad Gaur, Pawan Sidana and Ritika Gupta M.Pharma (Q.A) Chandigarh Group of Colleges,
Landra, Mohali( India) email-shmmon@gmail.com
“Dissolution tests are one of the most important quality control tests in
pharmaceutical analysis. A direct relationship has been demonstrated between in
vitro dissolution rate of many drugs and their bioavailability and is generally
known as in vitro – in vivo correlation, IVIVC”.
For disintegrating solid oral dosage forms, disintegration plays a vital role in the
dissolution process, but there is not always an automatic correlation between
disintegration and dissolution, especially for drugs with very low dissolution rates for
which dissolution may be the rate limiting step in the absorption process”.
A variety of designs of apparatus for dissolution testing have been proposed and tested.
“Different apparatus, procedures and techniques are required for different dosage
forms because of significant differences in formulation design and the physicochemical
properties of the drugs”.
Dissolution tests have been developed for various drug delivery systems including
immediate release solid dosage forms, several controlled -release solid dosage forms and
many novel and special dosage forms.
Most of the tests with recommended apparatus and other specifications are now available
as compendial standards in Pharmacopoeias and are used in pharmaceutical analysis and
drug development for the various drug delivery systems. The dissolution test methods are
also now designed to mimic.
the general conditions encountered in the physiological environment of the GIT and thus
hold promise for the establishment of in vitro-in vivo correlation, IVIVC,
for many more pharmaceutical products. However, some dosage forms still require more
method development and refinement before standardized dissolution test methods can be
recommended.
Introduction: “Dissolution is the process by which a solid solute enters in a solution”.
In the pharmaceutical industry, it may be defined “as the amount of drug substance that
goes into solution per unit time under standardized conditions of liquid/solid
interface,temperature and solvent composition”.
Dissolution is considered one of the most important quality control tests performed on
pharmaceutical dosages.forms and is now developing into a tool for predicting
bioavailability, and in some cases, replacing clinical studies to determine bioequivalence.
Dissolution behaviour of drugs has a significant effect on their pharmacological activity.

2. In fact, a direct relationship between in vitro dissolution rate of many drugs and their
bioavailability has been demonstrated and is generally referred to as in vitro-in
vivo correlation, IVIVC.
In spite of IVIVC, dissolution is not really a predictor of therapeutic efficiency.
Rather, it is a qualitative and quantitative tool which can provide valuable information
about biological availability of a drug as well as batch-to-batch consistency of products.
Dissolution tests are therefore used to confirm compliance with compendial
specifications and are needed as part of a product license application. Additionally, they are
used during product development and stability testing as part of the specifications for the
product. However, no universal dissolution test has been designed that gives the same in
vitro dissolution and in vivo bioavailability for different formulations and batches. Thus,
different compendial specifications have been developed for different formulations and
dosage forms.
Disintegration/dissolution process
Solid dosage forms may or may not disintegrate when they interact with gastrointestinal
fluid. following oral administration depending on their design.
For disintegrating solid oral dosage forms:disintegration usually plays a vital role in the
dissolution process since it determines to a large extent the area of contact between the
solid and liquid. However it is well known that considerable dissolution of the drug can
take place before complete disintegration of the dosage form,
A phenomenon which depends largely on the mechanism of disintegration and certain
physicochemical properties of the drug, such as its solubility. This could be important when
considering the motility of the drug or dosage form, and the release of the drug at specific
sites, in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, correlations have been established between
disintegration times and dissolution rates for various pharmaceutical tablets
It should be noted, however, that there is not always an automatic correlation between
disintegration and dissolution, especially for drugs with very low dissolution rates.
For many drugs, particularly those that are poorly soluble in the gastric fluid,
the rate-limiting step in the absorption process is the dissolution rate and
a dissolution rate determination can therefore be a useful guide to comparative
bioavailability.
What is the definition of dissolution?
Dissolution is pharmaceutically defined as the rate of mass transfer from a solid
surface into the dissolution medium or solvent under standardized conditions of
liquid/solid interface, temperature and solvent composition.
It is a dynamic property that changes with time and explains the process by which a
homogenous mixture of a solid or a liquid can be obtained in a solvent. It happens to

3. chemically occur by the crystal break down into individual ions, atoms or molecules and
their transport into the solvent.
Why dissolution testing is used for pharmaceuticals ?
Dissolution testing is a critical preformulation solubility analysis research tool in the
process of drug discovery that entails measuring the stability of the investigational product,
achieving uniformity in production lots and determining its in vivo availability. Thus this
Dissolution testing is an essential requirement for the development, establishment of in
vitro dissolution and in vivo performance (IVIVR), registration and quality control of
different dosage forms.
Whereas Dissolution is defined as the process by which solid substance enters in solvent to
yield a solution. Simply, dissolution is a mass transfer from a solid surface to liquid phase.
It clearly states that dissolution is a dynamic property.
Why Dissolution???
Clearly depicts the importance of dissolution in pharmaceutical Quality control (QC),
Research and Development (R&D) and for Regulatory authorization.
In Vitro dissolution testing is used in QC to assess batch to batch consistency and detect
deviations of manufacturing, to identify critical manufacturing variables like Binder
effects, Mixing effects, Granulation Procedure, Coating Parameters, to
assess Excipients role in different dosage forms, and to study the non-traditional production
effects associated with NDDS. In R&D it is used to assess the in vivo performance of drug
product. It is used as a waiver for BA-BE studies for BCS class I drugs. It is used as the
evidenced document for SUPAC and ICH guidelines.
When is dissolution important???
Figure 2 depicts two important stages of drug release and drug absorption. Drug release is
important especially for Delayed and Modified release dosage forms, where as drug
absorption is important for immediate release dosage forms.
The importance of dissolution can be determined if the IDR is known.2
Intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) is defined as “the rate at which a pure substance dissolves
from constant surface area under constant temperature, PH, Agitation and Ionic Strength of
dissolution medium.
When the drug is released from dosage form, if the IDR value of a drug candidate is greater
than or equal to 1.0 mg/min/cm2, it infers that drug dissolution will not be the rate
limiting/determining step to absorption, if the IDR value is less than or equal to 0.1
mg/min/cm2 it infers that drug dissolution will be the rate limiting step to absorption. While
the intermediate value of IDR represents the “may be” version of rate limiting step.
Therefore, dissolution studies are particularly important for poorly soluble drugs like BCS
class II, IV drug candidates where their absorption is typically dissolution rate-limited.

4. OFFICIAL DISSOLUTION APPARATUS
USP 30 classification
1. Rotating Basket (Ph.Eur./BP/JP)
2. Paddle (Ph.Eur./BP/JP)
3. Reciprocating Cylinder (Ph.Eur.)
4. Flow Through Cell (Ph.Eur./BP/JP)
5. Paddle Over Disk (Ph.Eur.)
6. Rotating Cylinder (Ph.Eur.)
7.
Reciprocating Holder
Apparatus 1 – Basket:
Useful for
• capsules
• beads
• delayed release / enteric
coated dosage forms
• floating dosage forms
• surfactants in media
Standard volume
• 900/1000 ml
• 1, 2, 4 liter vessels

5. Apparatus 2 – Paddle

6. Useful for
•
•
•
•
tablets
capsules
beads
delayed release / enteric
coated dosage forms
Standard volume
• 900/1000 ml
Method of first choice ,
Advantages
• easy to use
• robust
• can be easily adapted
to apparatus 5
• long experience
• pH change possible
• can be easily automated
which is important for
routine investigations

7. Apparatus 3 – Reciprocating cylinder
ing
Useful for
• tablets
• beads
• controlled release formulations
Standard volume
• 200-250 ml per station
250

8. -

10. Dissolution Testing of Various Dosage forms:
The dissolution testing of various dosage forms like Immediate release Modified release,
he
dosage
release,
Suspension,Topical and Transdermal Product, Controle Release product, Powders, Dosage
forms for oral cavity including Chewable tablets, Buccal/sublingual tablets, Chewing
ity
Gums, Suppositories & Semi solid Dosage forms, Soft gelatin Capsules and Aerosols.
ries
forms,
Dissolution Testing of Immediate Release (IR) Dosage forms (USP IP, BP, EP, JP)
USP,
“An immediate release dosage form is designed to deliver the drug rapidly into systemic
An
circulation. Therefore the dissolution may be the rate limiting step for its absorption.
Generally dissolution of IR dosage forms are been conducted using apparatuses o Basket,
of
Paddle, Reciprocating Cylinder and Flow through cell respectively. Most commonly I
Flow-through
and II apparatuses are used. (
(USP 1 Basket, USP 2 Paddle and IP 1 Paddle and IP 2
Basket apparatus). (EP uses Paddle, Basket and Flow through apparatuses for solid
EP
dosage forms of tablets, capsules
capsules)”
The choice of apparatus is based on the knowledge regarding the formulation design,
dosage form performance. Test is carried out at temperature of 37+0.5 0C or 37-0.5 C
In general when Basket apparatus is used, rotating speed of 100 rpm with 40
40-mesh screen
of the basket is used. Other mesh sizes may also be used if supported by necessary data
documentation. It is generally used for capsules and floating type of dosage forms or to
those which tend to disintegrate slowly. For floating type of dosage forms sinkers may be
used to prevent the floating of capsule.
Paddle apparatus is generally used for tablets. Operating speed of 50 is used in general.
Numerous monographs are available evidencing the use of Basket and Paddle whilst the
and

11. use of Reciprocating cylinder and Flow through cell apparatus is limited only to research
works to date. Vincopecetine and Theophylline had been evaluated using Reciprocating
cylinder making use of a PH gradient method and Flow through cell apparatus for reporting
in vitro profiling of albendazole/tetracyclin in 0.1N HCl. Samples are withdrawn according
to specifications with tolerance of +2% or -2%. (Apparatus 3 Reciprocating cylinder is
not accepted by JP).
The test is conducted on the equipment which was pre calibrated with USP Salicylic acid
and Prednisone Calibrator tablets (According to USP).The dissolution medium used
should be deaerated and may be water, buffered aqueous solution of P H 4-8 and dilute acid
of 0.001 N to 0.1 N HCl are used.
The test time is 30-60 minutes and with a single point specification or as specified in
individual monographs.
Interpretation:
The dissolution is done in three stages of S1, S2, and S3. In first stage S1, six units are
taken and the amount of drug from each unit should not be less than Q+5%, where Q is the
amount of dissolved active ingredient specified in individual monograph. Failure of first
stage compensates to conductance of second stage S2, where additional 6 units are tested
and the average of 12 units in two stages should be equal to or greater than Q and no unit
should be less than Q-15%. Failure of stage 2 leads to conductance of stage S3 where
additional 12 units are tested and the average of total 24 units of three stages S1, S2 and S3
should be greater than or equal to Q and no two units should be less than Q-15% and none
should be less than Q-25%.
Dissolution Testing of Delayed Release Dosage Forms (USP, IP(Dissolution
testing for Prolonged dosage forms), BP, JP, EP)
According to CDER guidelines Delayed Release Dosage Forms are “the products that
release the drugs at a time later than immediately after administration (i.e., these drug
products exhibit a long time in quantifiable plasma concentrations)”. So, the dissolution is
done to show that they are intact in stomach pH and release the drug only in intestinal
region. Test is carried out at temperature of 37+0.5 0C or 37-0.5.
Apparatusses Basket, Paddle, Reciprocating Cylinder and Flow-through cell are used for
dissolution testing of delayed release dosage forms (By USP, BP, IP and EP uses Paddle,
Basket and Flow through apparatuses whilst JP recommends only Flow through cell
apparatus for dissolution testing)17.
The dissolution is done in two stages one in Acid stage to show the intactness of dosage
form and in Buffer stage to evidence the drug release in specific region. Two methods are
used for testing which include

12. Method A: The test is carried out by placing the dosage form in 750 ml of 0.1N HCl. The
sample was withdrawn after two hours and analyzed. Immediately within 5 minutes 250ml
of phosphate buffer is added and contents are mixed thoroughly and final PH of buffer is
adjusted to 6.8+0.05 or 6.8-0.05. The test is run for another 45 minutes or as specified in
individual monographs and the sample is analyzed.
Method B: Here the test is initially carried out by placing the dosage form in 1000ml of
0.01 N HCl and sample is analyzed after two hours and the medium is discarded and
1000ml of 6.8+0.05 or 6.8-0.05 buffer is added and the test is run for 45 minutes more or as
specified in individual monographs.
apparatuses Basket, Paddle, Flow throgh cell make use of method A, B while
Reciprocating cylinder make use of method B with 300ml of dissolution medium.
The dissolution of delayed release dosage forms is said to be three three-tiered approach
since the dissolution is done in three stages of two buffers (A1, A2, A3 & B1, B2 &B3)
Dissolution Testing of Extended Release Dosage Forms (USP, IP, JP, BP,
EP(Dissolution testing for Prolonged dosage forms))
These include sustained release or controlled release dosage forms which reduces the
frequency of dosing compared to conventional dosage forms. The dissolution is done to
study the effect of pH on release profile of dosage form when it passes through GIT. Test is
carried out at temperature of 37+0.5 0C or 37-0.5
Apparatuses 1 (Basket) or apparatus 2 (Paddle) are used at higher rotational
frequencies.(According to USP, IP, BP, JP, EP)
Apparatus 3(Reciprocating cylinder) is used for testing bead type formulations. (According
to USP, IP, BP)
Apparatus 4 (Flow cell) is used for dosage forms containing limited solubility of API.
(According to USP, IP, BP, JP, EP)
Apparatuses 5 & 6 (Paddle over disk & Cylinder) are used for evaluating Transdermal
dosage forms. (According to USP)
Apparatus 7 (Reciprocating disk) is used for evaluating Transdermal as well as nondisintegrating oral dosage forms. (According to USP)
The test is done over a wide pHrange of 0.1N HCl to 7.5pH over 22 hours. (According
to USP). Physiological pH of 0.8-2 (stomach); pH 5-6.5 (jejunum){mid intestine}, pH
6-7.5 (ileum) are used according to EP17. Three test time points will be specified in
monographs.
Early time point of 1-2 hours is established to prove that there i3s no probability of dose
dumping of drug. Intermediate time point is established to study the in vitro release
profile of drug and final time point is chosen to show the complete release of drug.

13. Dissolution Testing of Transdermal Delivery Systems :
USP apparatus 5, 6 and 7(Paddle over disk, Cylinder and Reciprocating holder) are used
for testing at temperature of 32+0.5C or 32-0.5C. Generally three time points may be
specified in hours and the samples should be withdrawn with +2% or -2% tolerance
intervals.
—Use the paddle and vessel assembly from Apparatus 5( Paddle over disk) or 2 as
described in Dissolution with the addition of a stainless steel disk assembly (1) designed
for holding the transdermal system at the bottom of the vessel. The temperature should be
maintained at 32 ± 0.5 °C. During the test maintain a distance of 25 ± 2 mm between the
paddle blade and the surface of the disk assembly.
Procedure:Place the stated volume of the Dissolution Medium in the vessel, assemble
the apparatus without the disk assembly, and equilibrate the medium to 32 ± 0.5 °C.
Apply the transdermal system to the disk assembly, ensuring that the release surface of the
system is as flat as possible. The system may be attached to the disk by applying a suitable
adhesive (3) to the disk assembly. Dry for 1 min. Press the system, release surface side up,
onto the adhesive-coated side of the disk assembly. If a membrane (4) is used to support the
system, it should be applied in such a way that no air bubbles occur between the membrane
and the release surface. Place the disk assembly flat at the bottom of the vessel with the
release surface facing up and parallel to the edge of the paddle blade and surface of the
Dissolution Medium. The bottom edge of the paddle should be 25 ± 2 mm from the surface
of the disk assembly. Immediately start operation of the apparatus at the rate specified in
the monograph. At each sampling time interval, withdraw a specimen from a zone midway
between the surface of the Dissolution Medium and the top of the blade, not less than 1 cm
from the vessel wall. Perform the analysis on each sampled aliquot as directed in the
individual monograph, correcting for any volume losses,
In Vitro Drug Release study of topical Drug Using the VDC:
A VDC(vertical diffusion cell )system is used to determine in vitro release of semisolid
(cream, ointment, and gel) preparations. Typically, 200–400 mg of a cream, ointment, or
gel is spread evenly over a suitable synthetic inert support membrane. The mem brane, with
its application side up, is placed in a vertical diffusion cell (typically of 15-mm diameter
orifice), e.g., a Franz cell. The release rate experiment is carried out at 32 + 1 oC, except in
the case of vaginal creams for which the temperature should be 37 + 1 oC. Sampling
generally is performed over 4–5 hours, and the volume sampled is replaced with fresh
receptor medium. To achieve sink conditions, the receptor medium must have a high
capacity to dissolve or carry away the drug, and the receptor media should not exceed 10%
of Cs (drug solubility in the releasing matrix) at the end of the test.

14. Dissolution Testing of Powders:
(Not accepted by IP, BP, EP, JP, USP)
As such no official method was developed for dissolution testing of powders. The
preliminary method used was the determination of IDR where the powders are pressed like
a tablet to mimic constant surface area. Literature has been reported with use of USP
apparatus 2 and 4 for dissolution testing of finely divided particles. To counteract the effect
of dispersal of powders, a modified basket method was developed, where the basket was
dipped into the molten wax to seal the bottom, so that there will be long term contact of
drug with Excipients.
Dissolution Testing of Dosage forms for the Oral Cavity :
Development of dissolution method for these dosage forms possess several challenges due
to short residence time of dosage form in the mouth and limited volume of dissolution
medium for dissolving the dosage form.
•
•
•
Chewable Tablets: (Not accepted by IP, BP, EP, JP)
USP insisted the use of apparatus 2 for dissolution excepting Ampicillin where
apparatus 1 is recommended and Carbamazepine where apparatuses 2 & 3 are used.
The design of apparatus should consists of a mechanical breakage of tablet prior to
dissolution.
Buccal/Sublingual Tablets (Not accepted by IP, BP, EP, JP)
Initially USP stated the use of disintegration apparatus for ergotamine category
sublingual products. Later modified USP 3 apparatus with 20 strokes/min was used for
Hydrocortisone mucoadhesive tablets to mimic the low dissolution volume of in vivo.
Later another system Continuous Flow though Filtration Cell with dip tube for
filtration. 10 ml of fluid is pumped to give a short residence time of 8 minutes.
Chewing Gums (Not accepted by IP, BP, JP)
USP has not recommended any apparatus for dissolution testing of Chewing gums. But
EP has emphasized on the use of 3-piston apparatus that chews the gum at a rate of
60cycles/min in dissolution medium of PH 6.0 at 37 C. Still, controversies regarding
this issue are existing and urges for development of an appropriate apparatus.
Dissolution Testing of Soft Gelatin Capsules: (Not accepted by IP, BP, EP, JP)
USP has recommended the use of apparatuses 1 and 2. But since there had been serious
disadvantages related, attempts had been made in literature to develop new methods for
lipid-filled soft gelatin capsules.
Dissolution Testing of Aerosols: (Not accepted by IP, EP, JP, USP)
Literature has reported the use of designed flow through cell apparatus for dissolution
testing of aerosols. The method uses the collection of of aerosol particles on to a pre filter
which are obtained through impaction. The particles are made to flow through by using
HPLC pump at 0.7 ml/min flow rate and the fraction of drug dissolved was collected on the

15. upper filter and analyzed. Different mediums were reported like Simulated Lung Fluid
(SLF), Modified SLF with D-Phosphatidyl Choline (DPPC), and Serum Ultra filtrate
Simulant (SUF).
Dissolution Testing of Suppositories and other Semisolids (USP, EP)
Dissolution testing of Semisolid dosage forms for vaginal (pessaries), percutaneous
application (gels, creams, ointments, patches), ophthalmic (gel, cream, ointment), rectal
(suppository, gel, ointment, cream) may present problems like deformation, change of solid
state to oily state, softening during the test. Therefore a modified flow-through cell with
double chamber, modified basket or paddle with a sinker and wired screen may be
suitable for lipophilic suppositories while conventional paddle, flow through, basket may
be used for hydrophilic suppositories.
Dissolution Testing of suspenson:
"Apparatus 2 (Paddle), using an aqueous dissolution medium, is generally recommended
for dissolution testing of oral suspensions. Product preparation should follow a
standardized procedure (shaking or mixing); sample weight and volume should reflect a
typical dose of the product. Method parameters such as sample introduction and
agitation rate should be based on the viscosity and composition of the suspension
matrix. Agitation rate is typically 25 rpm for less viscous suspensions and 50 or 75 rpm
for high viscosity suspensions."
Later in the same chapter:
"In order to adequately characterize the release from the dosage form, a drug release
profile should be generated in which release (dissolution) values are determined as a
function of time. This multi-point characterization has been in place for some time for
modified release oral dosage forms, as well as for slower dissolving IR products. Many
of the special dosage forms discussed in this chapter (incl. oral suspensions) are
complex in terms of composition and release machanism, so a multi-point release test is
required to characterize release of the drug product, in general, as well as to test batchto-batch and shelf life consistencies."
From my own experience, consistent and repeatable introduction of constituted
suspensions to the dissolution vessel is key to success. For our particular application, a
10 mL syringe with sample canula attached was used to introduce the sample at paddle
blade level.