• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.13-18
• /
• 2001

This study was to investigate the relationship between the gel layer thickness and swelling boundary via strength measurements using texture analysis. The novel texture analysis approach was used to examine the dynamics of swelling behavior in a ternary polymeric matrix tablet. The method permitted the characterization of the changes occurring at the peripheral as well as within interior boundary of the swelling during water ingress. The increase in gel strength for pectin, HPMC, and a ternary mixture with gelatin was found to depend on polymer concentration. Therefore, this method is further applicable to characterize the swelling behavior and provide opportunity to differentiate the gel-layer from that of swelling boundary.