From: Larry Roberts (enclosure)

Illegal trafficking of pharmaceutical products by criminal organisations is a global threat for public health. Drugs for erectile dysfunction such as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are the most commonly counterfeited medicines in Europe. The search of possible toxic chemical substances in seized products is needed to provide early warning for public health. Furthermore, the elemental profile of the seized products can be useful in criminal investigations. For the first time an ion beam analysis (IBA) procedure to characterise authentic Viagra® tablets and sildenafil-based illegal products is described. Moreover, results are compared with the ones obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) on authentic Viagra® tablets in two reactors. IBA results showed that a combination of particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and secondary ion mass spectrometry using primary ions with energies in the range of several MeV (MeV-SIMS) is a powerful tool to characterise different products in a straightforward manner, allowing discrimination between legal and illegal products. INAA allowed accurate elemental quantification and also showed a great potential for the future implementation of an inter- laboratory classification system

Análise da composição elementar de pó de café através das técnicas PIXE e RBS

O presente trabalho consiste na caracterização elementar do café torrado e moído da marca Melitta como parte de uma pesquisa associada à Agência Internacional de Energia Atômica. Utilizando as técnicas de feixes de íons PIXE (Emissão de Raios X Induzidos por Partículas) e RBS (Espectroscopia de Retroespalhamento Rutherford) foi determinada a concentração elementar das amostras de café. Foram analisadas 72 amostras com a técnica PIXE e uma amostra com a técnica RBS. Através da técnica RBS foi possível determinar da concentração de elementos leves que compõem a matriz do café Melitta, como oxigênio, nitrogênio e carbono. A partir da análise através da técnica PIXE foram detectados os elementos Mg, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, e Rb. Os elementos Al, Ni, Br, e Sr apresentaram concentrações abaixo do limite de detecção. Foi observado que nem todos os elementos detectados foram encontrados em todas as amostras.This work aims at the elemental characterization of roasted ground coffee of the Brazilian brand Melitta as part of a research project developed with the collaboration of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Using ion beam techniques like PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) and RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry) the elemental concentrations of the coffee samples was determined. In total, 72 samples were analyzed with the PIXE technique, while one sample was analyzed with the RBS technique. Through the RBS technique it was possible to determine the concentration of light elements such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon. The elemental concentrations of Mg, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Rb were determined through PIXE analysis. The elemental concentrations of Al, Ni, Br, and Sr were below the limit of detection. It was observed that not all analyzed elements were detected in all samples

Análise da composição elementar de pó de café através das técnicas PIXE e RBS

O presente trabalho consiste na caracterização elementar do café torrado e moído da marca Melitta como parte de uma pesquisa associada à Agência Internacional de Energia Atômica. Utilizando as técnicas de feixes de íons PIXE (Emissão de Raios X Induzidos por Partículas) e RBS (Espectroscopia de Retroespalhamento Rutherford) foi determinada a concentração elementar das amostras de café. Foram analisadas 72 amostras com a técnica PIXE e uma amostra com a técnica RBS. Através da técnica RBS foi possível determinar da concentração de elementos leves que compõem a matriz do café Melitta, como oxigênio, nitrogênio e carbono. A partir da análise através da técnica PIXE foram detectados os elementos Mg, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, e Rb. Os elementos Al, Ni, Br, e Sr apresentaram concentrações abaixo do limite de detecção. Foi observado que nem todos os elementos detectados foram encontrados em todas as amostras.This work aims at the elemental characterization of roasted ground coffee of the Brazilian brand Melitta as part of a research project developed with the collaboration of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Using ion beam techniques like PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) and RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry) the elemental concentrations of the coffee samples was determined. In total, 72 samples were analyzed with the PIXE technique, while one sample was analyzed with the RBS technique. Through the RBS technique it was possible to determine the concentration of light elements such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon. The elemental concentrations of Mg, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Rb were determined through PIXE analysis. The elemental concentrations of Al, Ni, Br, and Sr were below the limit of detection. It was observed that not all analyzed elements were detected in all samples

Ion beam analysis (IBA) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for forensic characterisation of authentic Viagra® and of sildenafil-based illegal products

Illegal trafficking of pharmaceutical products by criminal organisations is a global threat for public health. Drugs for erectile dysfunction such as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are the most commonly counterfeited medicines in Europe. The search of possible toxic chemical substances in seized products is needed to provide early warning for public health. Furthermore, the elemental profile of the seized products can be useful in criminal investigations. For the first time an ion beam analysis (IBA) procedure to characterise authentic Viagra® tablets and sildenafil-based illegal products is described. Moreover, results are compared with the ones obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) on authentic Viagra® tablets in two reactors. IBA results showed that a combination of particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and secondary ion mass spectrometry using primary ions with energies in the range of several MeV (MeV-SIMS) is a powerful tool to characterise different products in a straightforward manner, allowing discrimination between legal and illegal products. INAA allowed accurate elemental quantification and also showed a great potential for the future implementation of an inter-laboratory classification system.</p

Ion beam analysis (IBA) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for forensic characterisation of authentic Viagra® and of sildenafil-based illegal products

Illegal trafficking of pharmaceutical products by criminal organisations is a global threat for public health. Drugs for erectile dysfunction such as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are the most commonly counterfeited medicines in Europe. The search of possible toxic chemical substances in seized products is needed to provide early warning for public health. Furthermore, the elemental profile of the seized products can be useful in criminal investigations. For the first time an ion beam analysis (IBA) procedure to characterise authentic Viagra® tablets and sildenafil-based illegal products is described. Moreover, results are compared with the ones obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) on authentic Viagra® tablets in two reactors. IBA results showed that a combination of particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and secondary ion mass spectrometry using primary ions with energies in the range of several MeV (MeV-SIMS) is a powerful tool to characterise different products in a straightforward manner, allowing discrimination between legal and illegal products. INAA allowed accurate elemental quantification and also showed a great potential for the future implementation of an inter-laboratory classification system.Accepted Author ManuscriptTechnici Poo