Vibrational spectroscopic techniques (Raman, FT-IR and FT-NIR spectroscopy) as a means for the solid-state structural analysis of pharmaceuticals

The aim of this work was to assess the suitability of vibrational spectroscopic techniques (Raman, FT-IR and FT-NIR spectroscopy) as a means for the solid-state structural analysis of pharmaceuticals. Budesonide, fluticasone propionate, salbutamol hemisulfate, terbutaline hemisulfate, ipratropium bromide, polymorphic forms of salmeterol xinafoate and two polymorphic forms of sulfathiazole were selected since they are used in the management of certain respiratory disorders and from different chemical and pharmacological entities along with some pharmaceutical excipients. Conventional visual examination is not sufficient to identify and differentiate spectra between different pharmaceuticals. To confirm the assignment of key molecular vibrational band signatures, quantum chemical calculations of the vibrational spectra were employed for better understanding of the first five selected drugs. The nondestructive nature of the vibrational spectroscopic techniques and the success of quantum chemical calculations demonstrated in this work have indeed offered a new dimension for the rapid identification and characterisation of pharmaceuticals and essentially warrant further research. The application of simultaneous in situ Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry for the preliminary investigation of the polymorphic transformation of salmeterol xinafoate polymorphs and two polymorphic forms of sulfathiazole has also been explored in this work leading to the development of a new method for the solid-state estimation of the transition temperature of entantiotropically related pharmaceutical polymorphs which represents the first analytical record of the use of this approach for pharmaceutical polymorphs

Nanosizing of hydrocortisone using microfluidic reactors.

noThe formulation of poorly water-soluble drugs is a challenging problem within pharmaceutical development. Recently, formulation using nanoparticles was highlighted as showing great potential to improve the dissolution and solubility characteristics of poorly water soluble drugs

Vibrational spectroscopic study of salbutamol hemisulphate

noSalbutamol hemisulphate is a relatively selective ß2-adrenergic agonist and is used as a bronchodilator. In this work, we present a detailed vibrational spectroscopic investigation of salbutamol hemisulphate using mid-infrared and near-infrared Fourier-transform (NIR-FT) Raman spectroscopies. These data are supported by quantum chemical calculations, which allow us to characterise the vibrational spectra of this compound reasonably. As such, this study could be viable for examining the way in which this drug interacts with its target molecules

Vibrational spectroscopic study of fluticasone propionate

Fluticasone propionate is a synthetic glucocorticoid with potent anti-inflammatory activity that has been used effectively in the treatment of chronic asthma. The present work reports a vibrational spectroscopic study of fluticasone propionate and gives proposed molecular assignments on the basis of ab initio calculations using BLYP density functional theory with a 6-31G* basis set and vibrational frequencies predicted within the quasi-harmonic approximation. Several spectral features and band intensities are explained. This study generated a library of information that can be employed to aid the process monitoring of fluticasone propionate. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved