Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy as a Special Technique for the Solid-State Characterization of Pharmaceutical Excipients, Drug Delivery Systems, and Medical Devices—A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aims of this systematic review are to explore the possibilities of using the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) method in the pharmaceutical industry and to examine the application of PALS as a supportive, predictive method during the research process. In addition, the review aims to provide a comprehensive picture of additional medical and pharmaceutical uses, as the application of the PALS test method is limited and not widely known in this sector. We collected the scientific literature of the last 20 years (2002–2022) from several databases (PubMed, Embase, SciFinder-n, and Google Scholar) and evaluated the data gathered in relation to the combination of three directives, namely, the utilization of the PALS method, the testing of solid systems, and their application in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. The application of the PALS method is discussed based on three large groups: substances, drug delivery systems, and medical devices, starting with simpler systems and moving to more complex ones. The results are discussed based on the functionality of the PALS method, via microstructural analysis, the tracking of ageing and microstructural changes during stability testing, the examination of the effects of excipients and external factors, and defect characterization, with a strong emphasis on the benefits of this technique. The review highlights the wide range of possible applications of the PALS method as a non-invasive analytical tool for examining microstructures and monitoring changes; it can be effectively applied in many fields, alone or with complementary testing methods.