Can a Spectrum Save Lives? How IR Spectroscopy Helps Detect Fake Medicines

General
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Have you ever heard about the term counterfeit medicines? If not I will am here to introduce you to this medical term that is causing alot damage to the overall of the society. Counterfeit medicines simply means fake medicines which is currently a very serious problem across globe particularly in low and middle income countries.

WHO data states that out of 10 medicine or medical products 1 is substandard or falsified. There physical inspection is quite impossible as it has same physical appearance. This where IR infrared spectroscopy comes into picture which works on the principle of infrared fingerprints meaning every drug molecule have unique sets of functional groups which can act as their own unique fingerprints as in case of humans.

Portable FTIR spectrophotometer is widely used to detect false API used in falsified medicine. Falsified antibiotics and antimalarials, such as amoxicillin, have been identified by regulatory bodies during inspections when IR spectra showed missing β-lactam and amine absorption peaks, indicating absence of the correct API conforming the drug to be falsified. Because IR analysis is fast, non-destructive, and requires minimal sample preparation, it has become an effective tool for on-site drug surveillance and public health protection.

As a healthcare professional what do you think about this technique???

Reference

MBH/AB

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This could save many lives. Counterfeit medicines are an insult to the pharmaceutical industry. Producing and supplying cheap drugs is a business that is profitable, but the adverse effects caused by them are not addressed. Devices like these could help solve that issue.

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This is a promising technique for evaluating the authenticity of medicines amidst the growing threat of counterfeits.

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It’s a powerful, practical tool for combating counterfeit medicines fast, non-destructive, and ideal for field inspections. Portable FTIR can greatly strengthen drug surveillance and patient safety.