We have developed methodologies that reveal the underlying processes of adsorption/desorption, solubility, and particle-particle interactions

With this approach, Agfa-Labs mitigates any shortcomings and imperfections of pharmaceutical or cosmetic products that might show up as a lack of stability (sedimentation, creaming, or phase separation), discolouration, bad odour, or allergic reaction to the human body. Moreover, Agfa-labs leverages its extensive domain knowledge in rheology, tensiometry, particle characterization, and sedimentometry for decoding chemical composition of ingredients of medicines and cosmetic products.

Ruttens comments, “To this extent, we have developed methodologies that reveal the underlying processes of adsorption/desorption, solubility, and particle-particle interactions.” For example, Agfa-Labs uses Hansen Solubility Parameters to optimize interfacial interactions between compounds in a composition. Practical applications of this approach include testing solvency of cleaning products and uptake of creams by the human skin, in addition to offering resistance to chemical attack by solvents and increasing the shelf life of a suspension, among others. In parallel to its other material testing methods, Agfa-labs’ high-throughput formulation techniques allow clients to unravel the composition of an existing benchmark and reduce time-to-market for the development of new products.

Last year, Agfa-labs expanded its distillation techniques to a higher level of precision. According to Ruttens, the new, improved separation technique can be used at wastewater treatment plants to isolate any catalyst or critical molecule present in the wastewater for their reuse in laboratories.
Looking at the road ahead, Agfa-labs is now planning to expand its services in the domain of ad-hoc services. As a multitude of new pharmaceutical and cosmetic projects are being created, the organization has started to share its experience and knowledge with its clients to direct the projects to maximize ROI. Ruttens notes that with the combined effort of Agfa-labs and its clients—pharmaceutical companies and cosmetic manufacturers—can make a stronger impact with their project than they can make alone.