pharmaceutical

Hot-melt extrusion is a proven route to solid dispersions and controlled-release systems that improve bioavailability, enable taste-masking, and eliminate solvents. For R&D, tight control of residence time, temperature, and specific mechanical energy is essential—and this is exactly where the Thermo Scientific™ HAAKE™ micro-compounding workflow excels.

Using the HAAKE MiniLab 3 twin-screw micro-compounder, teams can screen HME formulations with just ~2–5 mL of material while monitoring torque, pressure, and melt temperature in real time. Short, well-defined residence times help protect heat-sensitive APIs; rapid changeovers and easy cleaning support robust, repeatable experiments. Paired with HAAKE MARS rheometers or HAAKE Viscotester iQ viscometers and SOP-driven HAAKE RheoWin™ software, you can quantify flow/viscoelastic behavior, set QC limits, and build a clear scale-up path.

Benefits for HME R&D with the HAAKE platform

  • Work with tiny samples (≈2–5 mL Vari-Batch™) to conserve scarce APIs and excipients

  • Minimize cross-contamination with simple loading and quick cleaning workflows

  • Operate easily: intuitive controls, live torque/pressure data, and repeatable methods

  • Achieve reliable, reproducible results over long instrument lifetimes

  • Protect sensitive actives via precise multi-zone temperature control and short residence times

  • Translate to larger twin-screw lines using process metrics (torque, SME, temperature) gathered during screening

  • Expand testing with compact shaping accessories (e.g., strand/film take-off, micro-molding) for immediate dissolution or performance studies

Outcome: faster formulation cycles, lower material use, and production-relevant data from day one—powered by Thermo Scientific HAAKE micro-compounding and rheology.

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Food Science