USE OF FRACTAL GEOMETRY ON THE CHARACTERIZATION OF PARTICLES MORPHOLOGY - APPLICATION TO THE DICLOFENAC HYDROXYETHYLPIRROLIDINE SALT

This paper describes the use of fractal geometry in the study of the morphology and the dissolution behavior of diclofenac-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine salt. Using an image analysis system based on Fourier analysis of contours, size and shape descriptors characterizing the particle were determined. Fractal dimension (D) using the Richardson plot and reactive dimension (D-R) were also evaluated. The relation found between D and D-R reflects a dissolution process strongly influenced by the size particle. Furthermore, the efficiency of the dissolution process can be increased by controlling the geometrical parameters of the salt.