Calorimetric determination of amorphous content in lactose: A note on the preparation of calibration curves

Calorimetric methods (isothermal or solution calorimetry) offer the ability to detect amorphous contents to 0.5% (w/w) or better in processed pharmaceuticals and calorimetric data are becoming more widely accepted in regulatory submissions. However, both methods require the construction of calibration curves, prepared using quantitative physical mixtures of entirely amorphous and entirely crystalline material. If the sample under investigation exists in two or more isomers or polymorphs, and the enthalpy of solution (solution calorimetry) or the enthalpy of crystallisation (isothermal calorimetry) are different for the isomers or polymorphs, then it must be ensured that the batch of material used to prepare the calibration samples has the same isomeric or polymorphic composition as the (processed) material to be tested. Here, we demonstrate the problems that may arise using lactose as a pharmaceutically important model substance. Calibration curves were prepared from solution calorimetry and isothermal gas perfusion calorimetry data using two batches of lactose (one predominantly anhydrous α-lactose and one predominantly β-lactose). The calibration curves are shown to be significantly different for the two batches, and it is shown that quantification of the amorphous content of a processed sample of unknown isomeric composition is impossible, unless the calibration curve is prepared from the same batch of material as the processed sample. In addition, some of the other problems inherent in using isothermal gas perfusion calorimetry for amorphous content determination, such as wetting issues and the preparation of calibration standards that mimic processes samples, are discussed.