Measuring Low-Level Polymorphic Contamination using Morphologically Directed Raman Spectroscopy
Polymorphic conversions are an ongoing problem in the pharmaceutical industry. Here we describe the use of Morphologically-Directed Raman Spectroscopy to distinguish and quantify particles of different polymorphic types of acetaminophen (paracetamol) within a mixture. MDRS is a flexible tool for root cause analysis, product quality and formulation development and is well-suited to identifying even low-level polymorphic contamination.
sponsored by Malvern Panalytical
Introduction
Interest in studying mixed systems of pharmaceutical relevance is not a new concept. From intrinsic polymorphism to complex final products, the challenges encountered by modern analytical scientists have multiplied both in number and in complexity. Established techniques are often unable to provide both separation and identification of species in a mixed system, as they are used to probe chemistry (bulk spectroscopy), or individual particle characteristics (microscopy and SEM). Combining techniques capable of analyzing micron-scale particulates with absolute chemical specificity provides a new window into describing the complicated mixtures common in today’s competitive pharmaceutical market.
