Exploring Tablet Dissolution with a Conductivity Probe

Dissolution testing of tablets is an important aspect of quality assurance and control in the pharmaceutical industry. Students pursing courses in pharmaceutical chemistry and related areas can be exposed to (inter alia) the Noyes–Whitney model in isolation without accompanying laboratory work. We developed a simple, inquiry-based laboratory activity that uses a conductivity sensor to continuously monitor the dissolution of sodium chloride tablets. Learning goals were written to develop both knowledge and cognitive development in students, with purposeful inclusion of transferable and transversal skills. The laboratory work could be completed within two hours, and students submitted a publication-style short communication for summative assessment of the activity. Student feedback was gathered by a questionnaire, which yielded positive responses. Overall, this simple, low-cost activity incorporates important themes from physical chemistry and pharmaceutics and fosters critical and divergent thinking in students.

片剂溶出度检测是制药行业质量保障与质量控制的重要组成部分。修读药物化学及相关专业课程的学生，往往仅能单独学习诺伊斯-惠特尼模型（Noyes–Whitney model），却缺乏配套的实验操作环节。为此我们开发了一项简易的探究式实验活动，通过电导率传感器（conductivity sensor）持续监测氯化钠片剂的溶出过程。本次实验的教学目标旨在助力学生的知识储备与认知能力发展，并针对性融入可迁移技能与通用技能的培养。该实验可在两小时内完成，学生需提交一篇符合学术期刊发表格式的短篇通讯，以此作为该实验活动的终结性评估依据。我们通过问卷收集了学生的反馈，结果均为积极评价。总体而言，这项简易低成本的实验活动涵盖了物理化学与药剂学的核心主题，同时能够培养学生的批判性思维与发散性思维能力。