Proof-of-concept of detection of counterfeit medicine through polymeric materials analysis of plastics packaging
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2021
Abstract
The detection of counterfeit pharmaceuticals is always a major challenge, but the early detection of counterfeit medicine in a country will reduce the fatal risk among consumers. Technically, fast laboratory testing is vital to develop an effective surveillance and monitoring system of counterfeit medicines. This study proposed the combination of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for the quick detection of counterfeit medicines, through the polymer analysis of blister packaging materials. A sample set containing three sets of original and counterfeit medicine was analyzed using ATR-FTIR and DSC, while the spectra from ATR-FTIR were employed as a fingerprint for the polymer characterization. Intending to analyze the polymeric material of each sample, DSC was set at a heating rate of 10 degrees C min(-l) and within a temperature range of 0-400 degrees C, with nitrogen as a purge gas at a flow rate of 20 mL min(-1). The ATR-FTIR spectra revealed the chemical characteristics of the plastic packaging of fake and original medicines. Further analysis of the counterfeit medicine's packaging with DSC exhibited a distinct difference from the original due to the composition of polymers in the packaging material used. Overall, this study confirmed that the rapid analysis of polymeric materials through ATR-FTIR and comparing DSC thermograms of the plastic in their packaging effectively distinguished counterfeit drug products.
Keywords
Counterfeit medicine, DSC, FTIR, Polymer, Blister packaging
Divisions
phartech
Funders
Universiti Malaya (PG008-2014B)
Publication Title
Polymers
Volume
13
Issue
13
Publisher
MDPI
Publisher Location
ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND