Researchers at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, UK, have developed a laser-based method for characterizing the bulk chemical content of pharmaceutical capsules without opening the capsules. The innovation reportedly improves the accuracy of measurements compared with existing methods, and holds potential for improving a range of process control applications for pharmaceutical companies. The technique, developed in close collaboration with scientists from Pfizer, stems from research into a novel Raman spectroscopy method, Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy, which is under development at STFC for a wide range of applications including the detection of explosives in non-metallic containers, the detection of counterfeit drugs through opaque packaging, and the non-invasive diagnosis of bone disease and cancer. The technology is being developed for all of those applications by STFC’s tech transfer arm, Central Laboratory Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Ltd (CLIK), through a new spin-out, LiteThru Ltd. Go to: Science and Technology Facilities Council

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