Critical View on the Qualification of Electronic Tongues Regarding Their Performance in the Development of Peroral Drug Formulations with Bitter Ingredients

first_page settings Order Article Reprints Open AccessReview Critical View on the Qualification of Electronic Tongues Regarding Their Performance in the Development of Peroral Drug Formulations with Bitter Ingredients by Denise Steiner 1 [ORCID] , Alexander Meyer 2, Laura Isabell Immohr 3 and Miriam Pein-Hackelbusch 2,* [ORCID] 1 Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Muenster, Corrensstraße 48, 48149 Muenster, Germany 2 Institute for Life Science Technologies (ILT.NRW), Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Campusallee 12, 32657 Lemgo, Germany 3 NextPharma Germany Bidco GmbH, Hildebrandstrasse 12, 37081 Goettingen, Germany * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(5), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16050658 Submission received: 26 March 2024 / Revised: 3 May 2024 / Accepted: 9 May 2024 / Published: 15 May 2024 Download keyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract In this review, we aim to highlight the advantages, challenges, and limitations of electronic tongues (e-tongues) in pharmaceutical drug development. The authors, therefore, critically evaluated the performance of e-tongues regarding their qualification to assess peroral formulations containing bitter active pharmaceutical ingredients. A literature search using the keywords ‘electronic’, ‘tongue’, ‘bitter’, and ‘drug’ in a Web of Science search was therefore initially conducted. Reviewing the publications of the past decade, and further literature where necessary, allowed the authors to discuss whether and how e-tongues perform as expected and whether they have the potential to become a standard tool in drug development. Specifically highlighted are the expectations an e-tongue should meet. Further, a brief insight into the technologies of the utilized e-tongues is given. Reliable protocols were found that enable (i) the qualified performance of e-tongue instruments from an analytical perspective, (ii) proper taste-masking assessments, and (iii) under certain circumstances, the evaluation of bitterness.