Abstract-Terahertz Spectroscopy Applications in Medicament Analysis

• Kateřina Sulovská

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-53934-8_6

Terahertz spectroscopy came to the attention of the broader scientific community in the 90s of the 20th century with the development of science and technology in particular, enabling to work in terahertz spectral region. Terahertz spectroscopy has a wide possibilities of applications beginning in classical spectroscopy of gun powders, plastics, explosives, liquids, through terahertz imaging of medicaments, tissues, materials or layers, to remote observation/identification of hidden objects mainly for security purposes. The aim of this paper is to introduce possible applications in analysis of pharmaceuticals with different amount of active ingredient content. According to the results, the classical terahertz spectroscopy is not as suitable as other spectroscopic methods targeted on analyzing content of pharmaceuticals showing persistent inconveniences of this spectroscopy. All measurements were done using the TPS Spectra 3000 instrument.

Abstract-Examining pharmaceuticals using terahertz spectroscopy

Kateřina Sulovská, Vojtěch Křesálek

Tomas Bata Univ. of Zlin (Czech Republic)

Proc. SPIE 9651, Millimetre Wave and Terahertz Sensors and Technology VIII, 965103 (October 21, 2015); doi:10.1117/12.2194585

http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=2466612

Pharmaceutical trafficking is common issue in countries where they are under stricter dispensing regime with monitoring of users. Most commonly smuggled pharmaceuticals include trade names Paralen Plus, Modafen, Clarinase repetabs, Aspirin complex, etc. These are transported mainly from Eastern Europe (e.g. Poland, Ukraine, Russia) to countries like Czech Republic, which is said to have one of the highest number of methamphetamine producers in Europe. The aim of this paper is to describe the possibility of terahertz spectroscopy utilization as an examining tool to distinguish between pharmaceuticals containing pseudoephedrine compounds and those without it. Selected medicaments for experimental part contain as an active ingredient pseudoephedrine hydrochloride or pseudoephedrine sulphate. Results show a possibility to find a pseudoephedrine compound spectra in samples according to previously computed and experimentally found ones, and point out that spectra of same brand names pills may vary according to their expiration date, batch, and amount of absorbed water vapours from ambience. Mislead spectrum also occurs during experimental work in a sample without chosen active ingredient, which shows persistent minor inconveniences of terahertz spectroscopy. All measurement were done on the TPS Spectra 3000 instrument. 

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