Open Pharmaceutical Sciences Journal

2015, 2 : 13-20
Published online 2015 July 31. DOI: 10.2174/1874844901502010013
Publisher ID: PHARMSCI-2-13

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Recent Advances in Solid-State Analysis of Pharmaceuticals

Syed Nasir Abbas Bukhari, * , Ng Shin Hwei and Ibrahim Jantan
Drug and Herbal Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

* Address correspondence to this author at the Drug and Herbal Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Tel: +6-01123695295; Fax: +6-0326983271; E-mail: ; snab@ukm.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Current analytical techniques for characterizing solid-state pharmaceuticals include powder x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Powder x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry are mainstream techniques but they lack spatial resolution. Scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy provide good chemical and optical characterization but they are not capable of analysing very small nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and nano-thermal analysis can provide explicit characterization of nanoparticles but they are invasive. Nuclear magnetic resonance offers good spatial resolution but its use is mainly limited by poor sensitivity and high costs. In view of the many challenges posed by existing methods, new and novel techniques are being continually researched and developed to cater to the growing number of solid formulations in the pipeline and in the market. Some of the recent advances attained in the solid-state analysis of pharmaceutical are summarized in this review article.

Keywords:

Chemometrics, dynamic nuclear polarization, spatially offset raman spectroscopy.