title: Characterization of drug authenticity using thin-layer chromatography imaging with a mobile phone.
abstract: Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) has a myriad of separation applications in chemistry, biology, and pharmacology due to its simplicity and low cost. While benchtop laboratory sample application and detection systems for TLC provide accurate quantitation of TLC spot positions and densities, there are many applications where inexpensive and portable instruments would greatly expand the applicability of the technology. In this work, we demonstrate identity verification and concentration determination of pharmaceutical compounds via TLC using a custom 3D-printed cradle that interfaces with an ordinary mobile phone. The cradle holds the mobile phone's internal, rear-facing camera in a fixed position relative to a UV lamp and a TLC plate that includes a phosphor in the stationary phase. Analysis of photographs thus reveals the locations and intensities of principal spots of UV--absorbing drugs. Automated image analysis software determines the center location and density of dark spots, which, using integrated calibration spots of known drug compounds and concentrations, can be used to determine if a drug has been diluted or substituted. Two independent image processing approaches have been developed that may be selected based upon the processing capabilities of the smartphone. Each approach is able to discern 5% drug concentration differences. Using single-component solutions of nevirapine, amodiaquine, and paracetamol that have been manually applied, the mobile phone-based detection instrument provides measurements that are equivalent to those obtained with a commercially available lab-based desktop TLC densitometer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 306 North Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 208 North Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Hojeong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 306 North Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1308 West Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Huy M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Pharm. R&D Lab, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 11103 Upanga West, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Eliangiringa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaale
authors.affiliation: Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 208 North Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 West Springfield Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Management Sciences for Health, 4301 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22203, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Layloff
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 306 North Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1308 West Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lumetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 306 North Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 208 North Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 West Springfield Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: bcunning@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D040421:Cell Phone; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: Densitometry; Falsified drug detection; Mobile phone sensing; Pharmaceutical compound analysis; Thin-layer chromatography