Analysis of Morphology and Chemical Identification of Pharmaceutical Micro-particles Using Particle Correlated Raman Spectroscopy

Particle size analysis is a critical tool for the formulation and manufacturing of many different types of pharmaceutical dosage forms. The average size, distribution, and shape of particles can influence the product performance, solubility, dissolution rate, and stability of the final product. Examples of pharmaceutical dosage forms that can depend strongly on particle morphology include tablets, injectables, aerosols/sprays, and gels/creams. In addition, identification of foreign micro-particles, for example in intravenous fluids, is critical to understanding the source of contamination in drug products. There are several different techniques that may be used for particle characterization including laser diffraction and dynamic light scattering, however these techniques lack information on the chemical identity of the characterized particles. Particle correlated Raman spectroscopy (PCRS) enables chemical identification of particles down to sub-micron sizes by probing molecular vibrations within a sample. PCRS is a non-destructive, non-invasive technique that requires no sample preparation and combines particle characterization with chemical identification.