Pharmaceutical companies need confidence that their products will remain as safe and effective throughout their shelf life as they were when they left the production line. If a drug product loses potency or efficacy over time without a clear understanding of how or why, it can impact product quality and ultimately lead to poor outcomes.
Understanding product stability is therefore a critical part of pharmaceutical development. Stability testing helps manufacturers evaluate how a product changes over time and establish accurate expiration dates and appropriate storage conditions to help ensure consistent quality, safety, and performance throughout its intended shelf life.
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) helps evaluate the stability and shelf life of pharmaceutical products by measuring how their physical and chemical properties respond to different conditions and change over time. BA Sciences provides TGA as part of our comprehensive raw materials testing services. With experienced scientists, advanced instrumentation, and a strong understanding of regulatory requirements, we deliver reliable analytical data to support pharmaceutical development and quality.
How TGA is Performed
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is performed on small samples of pharmaceutical raw materials or products to evaluate how they respond to changes in temperature. During testing, the sample is placed in a specialized furnace and heated at a controlled rate, typically under an inert gas such as nitrogen. As the temperature changes, the sample’s mass is continuously measured and recorded.
The resulting data shows how the material gains or loses mass as a function of temperature, providing insight into thermal stability, composition, and decomposition behavior under defined conditions.
BA Sciences combines advanced thermogravimetric analysis instrumentation with extensive scientific and technical expertise. Our team works closely with clients to develop testing approaches that support accurate, efficient results while meeting regulatory and quality requirements. With a focus on responsive execution, we help keep programs on schedule and minimize potential delays.
The Benefits of Thermogravimetric Analysis
TGA provides valuable insight into the thermal properties and stability of pharmaceutical raw materials and products, helping inform development and quality decisions. Key benefits of thermogravimetric analysis include:
- Determining Thermal Stability: TGA can help identify the temperature range at which an active ingredient begins to degrade, providing valuable insight into its thermal stability.
- Ensuring Excipient Compatibility: This process provides insight into how excipients and volatile components behave under specific thermal conditions, helping inform material selection and evaluate product stability and performance.
- Measuring Moisture Content: TGA can measure mass loss associated with moisture as a sample is heated, providing insight into moisture content and its potential impact on product stability.
- Efficient Sample Analysis: TGA requires only a small amount of material and can provide thermal data efficiently, making it particularly valuable when sample availability is limited, materials are costly, or development timelines are tight.
