Evaluating the taste masking effectiveness of various flavors in a stable formulated pediatric suspension and solution using the Astree™ electronic tongue

Pediatric formulation development requires an understanding of the physico-chemical stability and the taste of the pharmaceutical drug product. Two model active pharmaceutical ingredients (compound X and compound Y) were used to develop a powder for reconstitution to a suspension and a solution dosage form after dilution with purified water. X-ray powder diffraction was used to monitor the physical stability of compound X in the suspension and high pressure liquid chromatography was used to monitor the chemical stability of compound Y in the solution. The most stable suspension (formulation T) and solution (formulation Z) were used to assess the change in taste-perception by different flavors using the Astree™ electronic tongue. The suspension was determined to be stable for 43 days and 21 days respectively at 5 °C and 25 °C/60% RH. Compound Y solution was chemically stable for up to 30 days at 25 °C/60% RH. The taste of the suspension was improved by Lemon and Cherry flavors. The taste of the solution was made better by Vanilla, Cherry, and Strawberry flavors. The significance of these results is that the e-Tongue can be used in the early stages of formulation development to eliminate flavors that do little to improve the palatability of a formulation.

The graph shows the taste-masking efficiency of Compound Y solution with different flavoring systems using the Astree™ electronic tongue. A decrease in distance value and discrimination index of a flavored formulation relative to the unflavored formulation the better the taste of the flavored formulation. The flavors are ranked in terms of taste-masking effectiveness as Vanilla > Cherry > Strawberry.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► XRPD and HPLC are useful techniques to select the most stable formulations.
► e-Tongue was demonstrated to be a good predictor of the taste masking efficiency.
► Taste masking of suspension with Lemon and Cherry flavors.
► Taste masking of solution with Vanilla, Cherry, and Strawberry flavors.