Image Analysis: A Versatile Tool in the Manufacturing and Quality Control of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
, István Antal 1 and Nikolett Kállai-Szabó 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Review "Image analysis: a versatile tool in the manufacturing and quality control of pharmaceutical dosage forms" provides a detailed review of the application examples of image analysis in the production and quality control of pharmaceutical dosage forms. It is well written and discusses clearly examples of the application of image analysis to sixteen subcategories of substances in three broad categories. The basic principle and application of image analysis in the field of drug dosage form in recent 30 years were reviewed. In a word, this article is full of content, with rich cases and clear logic.
Overall, the review paper bases on a wide literature background, and I recommend publishing after minor modifications. Please see the comments below.
- “2.1. Suppositories” should be revised as “2.2.2. Suppositories”
- Please comments the image-based PAT applications in crystallization, emulsification, fluidization etc.
- The deep learning-based image classification and recognition developed very fast in recently years, can you comment the application of deep learning-based technology in pharmaceutical manufacturing process or chemical multiphase flow?
- The image of an object is actually a projection, how the particle size be quantified to describe an object? How to distinguish the overlap or agglomeration of the particles?
- Line 570, You mentioned modern image analysis software. Can you compare the advantages and disadvantages of different modern image analysis software? As well as illustrating different scenarios of image analysis software applications.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
we would like to thank you very much for all suggestions and comments made, as well as the time spent reviewing our manuscript. Please see the attachment with our responses.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
A review of the application of image analysis of manufacturing and quality control of pharmaceutical dosage forms is an exhaustive collection of data on this topic. The topic of review is interesting and within the scope of Pharmaceutics. The structure and organization of manuscript are also nice. The manuscript can be accepted for publication after addressing the following remarks:
Introduction: Introduction should include general information related with the topic and detailed aims and objectives. The heading Image analysis for pharmaceutical purposes should be a separate section.
Figure 1: please increase the size of the letters.
Figure 2: please increase the size of the letters.
Figures 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8: Authors stated in figure captions the “evaluation of own experimental data”. Please clearly mentions whether these data are published or unpublished. Besides, I consider this work valuable and worth publishing.
Authors are advised to include the main advantages of image analysis compared to ordinary techniques in tabular form.
Authors are advised to include patent technologies on image analysis if available.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
we would like to thank you very much for all suggestions and comments made, as well as the time spent reviewing our manuscript. Changes were made to address the mentioned issues, please see them attached.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
One minor issue to fix in this review is that Figures 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are experimental data while missing the source/reference of the data. Please fix this.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
we would like to thank you very much for your recommendation and the time spent reviewing our manuscript. The mentioned experimental data are unpublished results measured by our research team. We thought that using these data in the manuscript would demonstrate that simple tools, like microcopes and digital cameras are simple, available and suitable tools for the examination of pharmaceutical dosage forms if they are coupled with image analysis.
