Achieving Precise, Particle Size Analysis in Pharmaceuticals

June 4, 2025

Why Particle Size Analysis is Fundamental to Pharmaceutical Innovation

In pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, precision isn't just a best practice, it’s a regulatory requirement and a scientific necessity. From enhancing bioavailability to ensuring quality control, particle size analysis (PSA) plays a central role in the development of safe, effective, and reliable medications.

Behind many of the industry’s leading advances in particle size characterization stands Microtrac MRB, whose innovations in measurement technologies have made them a key contributor to pharmaceutical progress. In Canada, ATS Scientific Inc. works closely with the pharma sector to deliver this expertise, helping researchers and manufacturers apply PSA tools where they matter most.

The Pharmaceutical Impact of Particle Size

Nearly every drug that contains a solid active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), from oral tablets to topical creams, depends on particles whose size must be carefully controlled. Here’s why:

• Solubility and Bioavailability: Poorly soluble drugs can benefit significantly from particle size reduction. Reducing size increases surface area, leading to faster dissolution and improved absorption.
• Dose Uniformity: Ensuring consistent particle size helps avoid segregation in blends and contributes to accurate dosing, a requirement for both patient safety and regulatory compliance.
• Stability and Shelf-life: Formulations with narrow and well-controlled size distributions are less prone to sedimentation and phase separation.
• Manufacturing Efficiency: Particle size affects flowability, compressibility, and drying rates which are key variables in processes like tableting, spray drying, and granulation.

These factors combine to make PSA a critical part of pharmaceutical product lifecycle management, from discovery through to commercial-scale production.

As the industry moves toward more complex drug delivery systems, nanoparticles and inhalables the need for accurate, and robust particle size analysis grows.

This is where Microtrac MRB’s portfolio becomes particularly relevant. Their technologies support a wide spectrum of particle characterization, from sub-nanometer droplets in emulsions to coarse excipients in dry powders with innovations like:

• Laser diffraction systems for rapid and wide-range sizing,
• Dynamic light scattering (DLS) for nanoparticle analysis,
• Static image analysis for particle shape and size distribution,
• Modular, hybrid systems that combine multiple techniques,

These instruments are not simply lab tools, they are decision-making platforms, helping scientists refine formulations, adjust manufacturing parameters, and satisfy the expectations of regulators like the FDA and Health Canada.

The ATS Scientific Inc. Advantage

Instrument capabilities are only as useful as the expertise behind their application. That’s why many pharmaceutical companies across Canada turn to ATS Scientific Inc., the authorized distributor for Microtrac.

With decades of experience supporting the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, ATS doesn’t just supply instruments, we support training, and integration. Whether you're exploring early formulation options or setting up in-process controls for GMP manufacturing, our team understands the unique requirements of pharma environments.

In a field where consistency, and therapeutic effectiveness are paramount, particle size analysis is more than just a measurement, it’s a core part of pharmaceutical science. With advanced solutions from Microtrac and support from experienced partners like our team at ATS Scientific, pharmaceutical developers in Canada are well-equipped to meet today’s challenges and anticipate tomorrow’s innovations.