The production of drug delivery systems fabricated at the nano scale comes with the challenges of identifying reliable characterisation tools, especially for solid dosage forms. A full understanding of physicochemical properties of solid-state systems at a high spatial resolution is essential to monitor their manufacturability, processability, performance (dissolution) and stability. Nano-thermal analysis (nano-TA), a hybrid of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and thermal analysis, has emerged as a solution to address the need for complete characterisation of samples with surface heterogeneity. Nano-TA provides not only physical information using conventional AFM but also the thermal behaviour of these systems as an additional chemical dimension. In this review, the principles and techniques of nano-TA are discussed with emphasis on recent pharmaceutical applications. Building on nano-TA, the combination of this approach with infrared spectroscopic analysis is briefly introduced. The challenges and considerations for future development of nano-TA characterisation are also outlined.

纳米级药物输送系统的生产面临着确定可靠表征工具的挑战，特别是对于固体剂型。在高空间分辨率下全面了解固态系统的物理化学性质对于监测其可制造性、可加工性、性能（溶解）和稳定性至关重要。纳米热分析 (nano-TA) 是原子力显微镜 (AFM) 和热分析的混合体，已成为解决对具有表面异质性的样品进行完整表征需求的解决方案。Nano-TA 不仅提供使用传统 AFM 的物理信息，还提供这些系统的热行为作为额外的化学维度。在本次审查中，讨论了纳米TA的原理和技术，重点是最近的药物应用。在nano-TA的基础上，简要介绍了这种方法与红外光谱分析的结合。还概述了纳米 TA 表征未来发展的挑战和考虑因素。