Dissolution testing holds significant importance within the pharmaceutical industry, although it often does not receive the recognition it deserves. Regrettably, dissolution units are sometimes humorously referred to as mere mixers or blenders by those unfamiliar with the scientific intricacies involved. However, in reality, dissolution units are highly precise instruments that play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs for the general public.

But what exactly is dissolution testing? It is the process of determining the rate at which a particular formulation releases its active ingredients. This test provides valuable insights into the drug's performance over time, including important information such as complete drug release, sustained release characteristics, and the prevention of dose dumping. In fact, dissolution testing is the sole pharmaceutical examination that can evaluate a product's in vitro performance.

Two of the most widely accepted ways to perform such tests for different types of dosage forms are paddle dissolution testing and basket dissolution testing. Both these methods are carried out in a transparent dissolution vessel with a rotating shaft immersed into it to agitate the drug and dissolve the drug with the liquid inside the vessel. Tablets are classically tested according to the paddle method. Swelling or floating dosage forms such as capsules are tested according to the basket method.

Dissolution testing serves as an invaluable tool in the pharmaceutical industry, especially when establishing a correlation between dissolution results and biological data. This correlation enables the use of dissolution testing as a surrogate for human or animal testing, resulting in faster and more cost-effective determinations of product safety and efficacy.

When performed correctly, dissolution testing provides a wealth of knowledge about a product, ultimately safeguarding public health and safety during drug administration. Companies like INNOVA offer efficient and convenient dissolution testers, enabling researchers to conduct experiments that yield accurate measurements of drug dissolution rates. By leveraging these advanced instruments, pharmaceutical professionals can enhance the effectiveness and reliability of dissolution testing, further contributing to the overall quality and safety of medications.