Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in Quality Assurance: A Detailed Review
Esha Bhavin Shah, Anuradha Ketan Gajjar · International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Nanotechnology · 2022
Process Analytical Technology (PAT) is a proactive initiative published by the Food and Drug Administration so as to overcome the conventional way of batch testing. As per the documented guideline it can be stated as a system for designing, analyzing, and controlling pharmaceutical manufacturing through the timely measurement of critical quality and performance parameters. PAT is a quality driven approach with innovative, strategic and rapid systems, so as to clearly understand, predict, manipulate, control and refine manufacturing processes. Owing to its multidimensional applications, process analysis can be carried out even in the most critical processes, like crystallization, by the on-line technique.PAT is one of the prime objectives stressed in the Initiative for Pharmaceutical CGMPs for the 21st Century published by the Food and Drug Administration. The chief motive of this dynamic approach is to carry out measurements on raw materials and in the in process materials or process parameters with tight controls, with a prime goal to enhance final product quality and reduce the chances of error or default/defect. The prime inventiveness of the PAT initiative is to focus on building quality inside the product and the entire manufacturing processes, in addition to continuous process improvement. The adoption of PAT approach can provide a plethora of benefits to the pharmaceutical industry by enhancing product quality while providing supercilious asset utilization and niche financial value. PAT bestows better insight of raw materials, by characterizing it physically and chemically, detailed understanding of manufacturing parameters, all of which collectively decide the fate of the quality and appeal of the final product. Unlikely to the traditional approach of testing the product at its terminal stage, PAT is a dynamic approach to keeping an eye on the manufacturing and other related processes on a continuous basis compared to a discrete one, and keeps a strict check at all stages of production. Hence this detailed review will stress on the importance of PAT and its overall conceptualization, which shall be indeed propitious for furnishing an integrated systems approach for quality design, process analyses, understanding and control, continuous improvement, knowledge and risk-based management within the FDA 21st century framework of Good manufacturing initiative and will be a useful guide to the industry and academia personnel for better understanding of this approach. Additionally it also highlights the unique synergy of Quality by Design with PAT for establishing an in depth understanding of the manufacturing process.