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New Laser Technique Promises Better Process Control In Pharmaceutical Industry

Date:
February 25, 2008
Source:
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Summary:
Scientists have developed an effective laser based method for the characterization of the bulk chemical content of pharmaceutical capsules -- without opening the capsules. The technique holds great potential for a range of process control applications in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Scientists at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, UK have developed an effective laser based method for the characterisation of the bulk chemical content of pharmaceutical capsules - without opening the capsules.

In close collaboration with teams from Pfizer Ltd the researchers in STFC's Lasers for Science Facility succeeded in quantifying the presence of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in production line relevant capsules to a relative error of 1%. Other established non-invasive methods were unable to reach the same level of accuracy with the same sample.

The technique holds great potential for a range of process control applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

The development stems from research into a novel Raman spectroscopy method, Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy, which is under development at STFC for a wide range of applications including the detection of explosives in non-metallic containers, the detection of counterfeit drugs through opaque packaging and the non-invasive diagnosis of bone disease and cancer. The concepts, which are relatively simple to implement, were developed through experiments involving STFC's large scale facilities which provided crucial insight into photon transport processes.

The development is being carried out in close collaboration with STFC's knowledge technology transfer arm [CLIK] and the new techniques are planned for commercialisation through STFC's spin-out company LiteThru Ltd.

"This work is a great example of how leading edge science performed on national scale facilities can be directly translated into solutions for key industrial problems. Direct collaboration between Pfizer and STFC scientists is a model for the future, allowing leading-edge techniques to be appropriately targeted to the benefit of the UK economy", says Professor Mike Dunne, Director of the Central Laser Facility of which the Lasers for Science Facility is an integral part.

Professor Pavel Matousek, the project leader commented, "I am delighted that the vibrant environment at STFC enables us to engage in world-leading science and to make effective use of new ideas and discoveries for the direct benefit of our society."

The results of the collaborative study are reported in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Science and Technology Facilities Council. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

Science and Technology Facilities Council. "New Laser Technique Promises Better Process Control In Pharmaceutical Industry." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 February 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080218134542.htm>.
Science and Technology Facilities Council. (2008, February 25). New Laser Technique Promises Better Process Control In Pharmaceutical Industry. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080218134542.htm
Science and Technology Facilities Council. "New Laser Technique Promises Better Process Control In Pharmaceutical Industry." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080218134542.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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