Afterglow-driven tablet quality assessment: non-destructive detection via maltodextrin-based room temperature phosphorescence

This study explores a non-destructive detection method utilizing the afterglow effect of maltodextrin (MD) for tablet quality detection. Firstly, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed MD’s phosphorescence mechanisms. Then, MD tablets were prepared for hardness response, disintegration testing, and hygroscopicity testing. Content uniformity of tablets was assessed by mixing MD with non-afterglow materials. Phosphorescence lifetime and afterglow signal of the tablet were measured using a fluorescence spectrophotometer and afterglow imaging analysis. MD’s hydroxyl groups readily form hydrogen-bonded networks, facilitating phosphorescent emission. MD tablets stored in different humidity environment conditions such as 94 %, 57 %, 43 %, and 11 % for 6 h showed phosphorescence lifetimes of 86.15, 84.80, 78.01, and 66.40 ms, respectively. Phosphorescence lifetimes of MD tablets with hardnesses of 70, 100, 130, and 160 N were 65.17, 67.12, 67.84, and 67.98 ms, respectively. MD was mixed with polyvinyl pyrrolidone K30 and Andrographis Herbal in a ratio of 3:7 and 8:2, respectively. The mixture was prepared into tablets. Uniformity content tablets had gray value relative standard deviations of 15.00 %, 20.38 %, and 15.28 %, and inhomogeneous ones were 88.87 % and 36.70 %. This work highlights that MD is stimulus-responsive to moisture and hardness, and will promote the development of non-destructive tablet detection technology.