Small Molecule Thermal Analysis: The Fundamentals Series

An In-Depth Guide to Thermal Analysis Principles and Applications in Small Molecule Drugs

Welcome to our Small Molecule Thermal Analysis Fundamentals video series, where we break down the basics of thermal analysis techniques and their applications in characterizing pharmaceutical materials. You’ll learn the basics about techniques like DSC, TGA, SA, DMA, and TAM, and how the thermal properties they measure are used in pharmaceutical science. Whether you are learning about thermal analysis for the first time or looking to enhance your results, these videos will offer clear explanations and real experimental analysis.

EPISODE #1

Small Molecule Thermal Analysis: An Overview of Differential Scanning Calorimetry

This introductory video from TA Instruments explains the core principles of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), detailing how the instrument measures heat flow to identify material phase transitions and heat capacity. It also covers sample preparation, calibration, and interpreting data to analyze material behavior.

EPISODE #2

Small Molecule Thermal Analysis: DSC Analysis of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs

This follow-up video from TA Instruments explains how Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is used to identify and study pharmaceutical polymorphs based on their unique melting points and enthalpies of fusion. It also covers complex thermodynamic behaviors, such as monotropic and enantiotropic relationships, and highlights the importance of combining DSC with complementary techniques for accurate data interpretation.

EPISODE #3

Small Molecule Thermal Analysis: DSC Analysis of Pharmaceutical Hydrates/Solvates

This third video from TA Instruments explores how Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is utilized to study the thermal behavior of hydrates and solvates. It explains how to identify endothermic solvent loss, how to confirm these processes using hermetic pans or Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and details the characteristic sequence of dehydration, recrystallization, and anhydrous melting.

EPISODE #4

Small Molecule Thermal Analysis: DSC Analysis of Pharmaceutical Glasses

This fourth video from TA Instruments explains the complexities of analyzing the glass transition in amorphous materials using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). It describes how the transition appears as a step change in the baseline due to variations in heat capacity, details the impact of kinetic aging on enthalpy recovery peaks, and offers practical solutions like sample reheating and Modulated DSC (MDSC) to ensure accurate interpretation.

EPISODE #5

Small Molecule Thermal Analysis: DSC Analysis of Pharmaceutical Amorphous Solid Dispersions

This fifth video from TA Instruments details how Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is applied to characterize Amorphous Solid Dispersions (ASDs). It explains how to differentiate between solid solutions and solid suspensions by analyzing phase numbers and glass transition temperatures, while warning against common misinterpretations caused by phase changes that occur during the heating process itself.

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