Formation of a solid solution of a drug in a water-soluble polymer is one of the primary techniques used to improve the dissolution rate and thus bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble drug. Understanding and detecting the state of the drug inside such a polymer matrix is critically important since issues such as drug stability, safety and efficacy can be greatly affected. In this study, two model formulations were prepared containing low and high levels of drug content. The heterogeneity of the formulations has been investigated using a novel nanothermal analysis technique. This technique has demonstrated a promising capability for imaging and quantitatively characterising the nanoscale properties of solid dispersion formulations.