title: Noninvasive authentication of pharmaceutical products through packaging using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: We demonstrate the use of spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) in the identification of counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets and capsules through different types of packaging. The technique offers a substantially higher sensitivity than that available from conventional backscattering Raman spectroscopy. The approach is particularly beneficial in situations where the conventional Raman backscattering method is hampered or fails because of excessive surface Raman or fluorescence signals emanating from the packaging, capsule shell, or tablet coating contaminating the much weaker subsurface Raman signals of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients held in the product. It is demonstrated that such interfering signals can be effectively suppressed by SORS.
authors.affiliation: Central Laser Facility, CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eliasson
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matousek
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules / Q000032:analysis; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013607:Tablets / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D013607:Tablets