Available from Spectral Dimensions is an application note which highlights the use of the Sapphire NIR CI system and ISys hyperspectral data processing software in the detection of counterfeit drugs
Near infra red chemical imaging is a fast spectroscopic non destructive method capable of delivering spatial, chemical, structural and functional information at the same time.
The analysis of samples using this technique requires little or no sample preparation.
Data collection is rapid and when combined with powerful chemometrics software allows efficient and simple data collection from bulk samples.
A full NIR spectra is collected for every pixel in an imaged area.
Principal component analysis (PCA) can be used blind to identify differences or similarities between objects in the field of view.
It is possible for example possible to also analyse samples through unopened blister packs.
These possibilities offer exciting prospects for non destructive analysis and classification of rare or even unique samples of counterfeit products.
In this application a set of twenty counterfeit and ten genuine tablets were analysed by NIR CI.The tablets were easily classified into three classes based on active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) present.
Indeed the counterfeit tablets contained two different substitute APIs.Within a class more subtle differences (eg degrees of hydration, differences in excipients) were determined, which may help in the identification of the original sources of the tablets.
