scholarly journals Proof-of-Concept of Detection of Counterfeit Medicine through Polymeric Materials Analysis of Plastics Packaging

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2185
Author(s):  
Mohammad Salim ◽  
Riyanto Teguh Widodo ◽  
Mohamed Ibrahim Noordin

The detection of counterfeit pharmaceuticals is always a major challenge, but the early detection of counterfeit medicine in a country will reduce the fatal risk among consumers. Technically, fast laboratory testing is vital to develop an effective surveillance and monitoring system of counterfeit medicines. This study proposed the combination of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for the quick detection of counterfeit medicines, through the polymer analysis of blister packaging materials. A sample set containing three sets of original and counterfeit medicine was analyzed using ATR-FTIR and DSC, while the spectra from ATR-FTIR were employed as a fingerprint for the polymer characterization. Intending to analyze the polymeric material of each sample, DSC was set at a heating rate of 10 °C min−l and within a temperature range of 0- 400 °C, with nitrogen as a purge gas at a flow rate of 20 ml min−an. The ATR-FTIR spectra revealed the chemical characteristics of the plastic packaging of fake and original medicines. Further analysis of the counterfeit medicine’s packaging with DSC exhibited a distinct difference from the original due to the composition of polymers in the packaging material used. Overall, this study confirmed that the rapid analysis of polymeric materials through ATR-FTIR and comparing DSC thermograms of the plastic in their packaging effectively distinguished counterfeit drug products.

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4300
Author(s):  
Marta Multigner ◽  
Irene Morales ◽  
Marta Muñoz ◽  
Victoria Bonache ◽  
Fernando Giacomone ◽  
...  

To modulate the properties of degradable implants from outside of the human body represents a major challenge in the field of biomaterials. Polylactic acid is one of the most used polymers in biomedical applications, but it tends to lose its mechanical properties too quickly during degradation. In the present study, a way to reinforce poly-L lactic acid (PLLA) with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that have the capacity to heat under radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) is proposed. As mechanical and degradation properties are related to the crystallinity of PLLA, the aim of the work was to explore the possibility of modifying the structure of the polymer through the heating of the reinforcing MNPs by EMF within the biological limit range f·H < 5·× 109 Am−1·s−1. Composites were prepared by dispersing MNPs under sonication in a solution of PLLA. The heat released by the MNPs was monitored by an infrared camera and changes in the polymer were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry and nanoindentation techniques. The crystallinity, hardness, and elastic modulus of nanocomposites increase with EMF treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Ju Oh ◽  
Do-Kun Kim ◽  
Young Chan Choi ◽  
Seung-Ju Lim ◽  
Jae Bum Jeong ◽  
...  

Abstract Poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) based piezoelectric polymers are gradually becoming the substitute for the conventional piezoelectric ceramic and polymeric materials due to their low cost and biodegradable, non-toxic, piezoelectric and non-pyroelectric nature. To improve the piezoelectric properties of melt-spun poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)/BaTiO3, we optimized the post-processing conditions to increase the proportion of the β crystalline phase. The α → β phase transition behaviour was determined by two-dimensional wide-angle x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The piezoelectric properties of PLLA/BaTiO3 fibres were characterised in their yarn and textile form through a tapping method. From these results, we confirmed that the crystalline phase transition of PLLA/BaTiO3 fibres was significantly enhanced under the optimised post-processing conditions at a draw ratio of 3 and temperature of 120 °C during the melt-spinning process. The results indicated that PLLA/BaTiO3 fibres could be a one of the material for organic-based piezoelectric sensors for application in textile-based wearable piezoelectric devices.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3021
Author(s):  
Karolina Fila ◽  
Beata Podkościelna ◽  
Maciej Podgórski

Two structurally different aromatic dithioesters were synthesized from two dithiols and methacryloyl chloride. The polymer networks based on methyl methacrylate and/or styrene and the new dimethacrylates were subsequently prepared. The polymerization yields of copolymers were in the range of 95–99%. The thermal and mechanical properties of the copolymers were determined by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG), and Shore D hardness. The addition of dithioesters—1,5-NAF-S-Met (or 1,4(1,5)-NAF-CH2S-Met) (from 0.5% to 5%) to MMA- or ST-based polymers results in lowering the glass transition temperature (Tg) by about 8 °C. The thioester-containing polymers based on MMA exhibit lower thermal stability than those with ST. The polythioesters are stable up to 250 °C. The UV/vis spectra and refractive indexes of prepared liquid compositions were also measured. The 1,5-NAF-S-Met (and 1,4(1,5)-NAF-CH2S-Met) improved the refractive index values of ST and MMA compositions. The double bond conversion was also determined for all synthesized materials. The swelling studies of polymers with 20% addition of thioester crosslinkers were investigated. For all polymeric materials with 20% addition of thioesters, depolymerization of the network was carried out by thiol-thioester exchange. The depolymerization products were re-reacted in a thiol-ene reaction with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate by thermal initiation. The thiol-ene procedure enabled reprocessing of starting polymers and obtaining new materials characterized by distinctly different thermal, mechanical, and swelling properties. The thiol-ene materials exhibit a lower Shore hardness in the range of 20–50 °Sh, as well as decreased Tg values when compared to starting copolymers. Due to these possible exchange reactions, one can facilely manipulate the properties of the polymers which could lead to the manufacturing of the new products with the desired features. Degradation of the cross-linked structure and recycling of copolymers were also discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 899 ◽  
pp. 36-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiane R. Silvano ◽  
J.M.M. Mello ◽  
Lucinao Luiz Silva ◽  
Humberto Gracher Riella ◽  
Márcio Antônio Fiori

A major challenge in the manufacture of films for polymeric packaging is the definition and setting of the friction coefficient (FCO) for the film surfaces. The FCO values are established with the incorporation of additives during the processing of the polymeric films. But, the homogenization of these additives in the polymeric matrix is very difficult. The additives have different polarity that the matrix polymeric and not are mixable. So, these additives migrate for the surface of the polymeric films easily. Several molecules are used as sliding additives, but among the most efficient are the amides molecules, highlighting the erucamide. This molecule promotes the decrease of the FOC but due its quick migration for the polymeric film surface provides numerous problems for the manufacture of the polymeric packaging and during its application as the product. In this work a nanocomposite (MMT-ERU) was obtained by an intercalation process to improve the compatibility between the polymeric materials and the erucamide molecules. The results shown in this work refers to the studies about the intercalation processes of the erucamide molecules into nanoclays (montmorillonite) to obtain the nanocomposite MMT-ERU. The effect of the temperature and the percentage of the nanoclay in the intercalation processes were studied. The results of x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry shown that erucamide molecules were intercalated in the nanoclay structures and that intercalation efficiency depends positively of the temperature and percentage amount of the nanoclay in the reaction medium.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Custers ◽  
Patricia Courselle ◽  
Sandra Apers ◽  
Eric Deconinck

AbstractCounterfeit medicines pose a major threat to public health worldwide. These pharmaceuticals are mostly manufactured without respecting Good Manufacturing Practices. Moreover, they are not subjected to any form of quality control, and therefore their safety, efficacy, and quality cannot be guaranteed. Extensive research on counterfeit medicines has already been performed and published in literature. This review aims at providing an updated overview of the use of fingerprints and subsequent multivariate (chemometrical) data analysis in the field of counterfeit medicine detection. Fingerprinting could be a useful tool in the analysis of counterfeit medicines because it generates a holistic view of a sample, rather than focusing on specific and predefined characteristics, such as identification and quantification of present active pharmaceutical ingredients. This review first provides an introduction into the counterfeiting problem. Next, the concept of fingerprinting and the basic principles of chemometrics are explained, followed by a description of the successful application of fingerprints in the field of Pharmacognosy. The last part of this review provides an overview describing the use of fingerprints in counterfeit medicine research.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 2571-2579 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Lecomte ◽  
M. Liégeois ◽  
A. Rulmont ◽  
R. Cloots ◽  
F. Maseri

Alkali activation of dehydroxylated kaolin or clay yielded high-strength polymeric materials, so-called geopolymers. They were synthesized by mixing the aluminosilicate with solutions of sodium metasilicate and KOH followed by adding 45 wt.% of ground-granulated blast furnace slag. The influence of the aluminosilicate source, its activation temperature, and the order of mixing raw materials were studied on the workability of the blending paste, the microstructure, and the Vickers hardness of the geopolymer samples. The polymeric material is completely amorphous according to x-ray diffraction. Solid-state 27Al and 29Si magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance showed that the geopolymer consists of AlO4 and SiO4 tetrahedra linked together through a polymeric network constituted by branched entities SiQ4(4Al) and SiQ4(3Al), but also by less-polymerized silicates SiQ1 and SiQ2. Scanning electron microscopy showed a homogeneous polymeric gel matrix containing unreacted slag (and quartz) grains; thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry exhibited a high content of water and an elevated melting point (1260°C). Vickers hardness values are in the range of 200 MPa.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Barczewski ◽  
Danuta Matykiewicz ◽  
Bartłomiej Hoffmann

Two quinacridone pigments were added (0.01; 0.05; 0.1; 0.5; 1; 2 wt%) to isotactic polypropylene (iPP), and their influence on mechanical and thermomechanical properties were investigated. Complex mechanical and thermomechanical iPP properties analyses, including static tensile test, Dynstat impact resistance measurement, and hardness test, as well as dynamic mechanic thermal analysis (DMTA), were realized in reference to morphological changes of polymeric materials. In order to understand the differences in modification efficiency and changes in polymorphism of polypropylene matrix caused by incorporation of pigments, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) experiments were done. Both pigments acted as highly effective nucleating agents that influence morphology and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene injection molded samples. Differences between polypropylene samples nucleated by two pigments may be attributed to different heterogeneous nucleation behavior dependent on pigment type. As it was proved by WAXS investigations, the addition of γ-quinacridone (E5B) led to crystallization of polypropylene in hexagonal phase (β-iPP), while for β-quinacridone (ER 02) modified polypropylene no evidence of iPP β-phase was observed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Ratajska ◽  
Wojciech Kulak ◽  
Artur Poeppel ◽  
Andreas Seyler ◽  
Zbigniew Roslaniec

Morphology and mechanical properties of polyamide 12 (PA12)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blends The morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of polyamide 12 (PA12)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blends were investigated. These polymers are engineering, semi-crystalline polymers which are reciprocally immiscible. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the polymeric materials. Mechanical properties were examined by static tensile test. The investigations demonstrate that blends with higher amount of PVDF, with the morphology of two co-continuous semicristalline phases, exhibit better mechanical properties. The blends with small content of PVDF and prepared by extrusion show the morphology of small separated domains of PVDF and full continuous PA phase. The morphology of these blends is different than the blends prepared by internal mixer and have better mechanical properties too. Thus they can be used in particular applications without a compatibilizing agent.


e-Polymers ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Witold Brostow ◽  
Kevin P. Menard ◽  
John B. White

Abstract Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) techniques are commonly applied to characterize polymer-based materials - but little if at all to characterize semiconductor thermoelectric (TE) materials. TE materials may be coupled with polymeric materials in advanced thermoelectric devices, and the knowledge of TE material properties will be useful in the choice of materials for future applications. We have obtained DMA results for both n-type and p-type bismuth telluride based TE materials. We find that tan δ values, indicative of viscoelastic energy dissipation modes, approach the values for glassy or semi-crystalline polymers, and are larger by more than a whole order of magnitude than the tan δ of structural metals. DMA thermal scans show clear hysteresis-type effects and a correlation with differential scanning calorimetry thermal transitions. DMA properties as a function of frequency are briefly discussed. Our results show that DMA techniques are useful in the evaluation of thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of these TE materials and of assembled coolers. The viscoelastic effects we report may provide a damping mechanism for severe stresses inherent to service conditions of the TE coolers.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 3177
Author(s):  
Moein Zarei ◽  
Miroslawa El Fray

Polymeric materials have numerous applications from the industrial to medical fields because of their vast controllable properties. In this study, we aimed to synthesize series of poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleic succinate-ethylene glycol succinate) (PBS-DLS-PEG) copolymers, by two-step polycondensation using a heterogeneous catalyst and a two-step process. PEG of different molecular weights, namely, 1000 g/mol and 6000 g/mol, was used in order to study its effect on the surface and thermal properties. The amount of the PBS hard segment in all copolymers was fixed at 70 wt%, while different ratios between the soft segments (DLS and PEG) were applied. The chemical structure of PBS-DLS-PEG was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Gel permeation chromatography was used to determine the molecular weight and dispersity index. The results of structural analysis indicate the incorporation of PEG in the macrochain. The physical and thermal properties of the newly synthesized copolymers were also evaluated using water contact angle measurements, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic thermomechanical analysis. It was found that increasing the amount of PEG of a higher molecular weight increased the surface wettability of the new materials while maintaining their thermal properties. Importantly, the two-step melt polycondensation allowed a direct fabrication of a polymeric filament with a well-controlled diameter directly from the reactor. The obtained results clearly show that the use of two-step polycondensation in the melt allows obtaining novel PBS-DLS-PEG copolymers and creates new opportunities for the controlled processing of these hydrophilic and thermally stable copolymers for 3D printing technology, which is increasingly used in medical techniques.


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