Counterfeit Drugs Research Articles

AI Predictive Analytics for Verifying Pharmaceutical Authenticity and Combating Drug Counterfeiting

A significant worry in recent years has been the counterfeiting of medicines. The distribution and manufacture of fake or falsified drugs are both criminal and harmful to the public's health. The severity of this issue differs significantly from one country to another, primarily due to variations in the adherence to national regulations and processes. Thus, preventing the sale of fake drugs has become an urgent matter, particularly in poor and developing nations. The study presents a new multi-layered validation structure for pharmaceutical authenticity verification that uses Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and blockchain technology for artificial intelligence predictive analytics. The goal is to tackle the widespread problem of counterfeit drugs. Using GANs to sift through past data, the suggested strategy improves the detection of minor package variations by identifying trends and traits linked to counterfeit drugs. Using the GAN-generated enhanced dataset, a CNN is trained to accurately and specifically categorize drug packaging.Further, the framework uses blockchain technology to provide trustworthy and transparent recordkeeping of drugs in realtime as they move through the supply chain. Increased patient safety directly results from our system's thorough audit trail, which solves the problems of fake medications and regulatory compliance. The suggested approach reduces counterfeit dangers and provides a scalable paradigm for other industries to use when dealing with similar authenticity verification issues, which means it can find more uses in safety-critical fields. The success of the multi-layered validation structure model is evaluated using performance metrics such as accuracy, recall, and F1-score. It achieves a fantastic accuracy rate of over 95%.

Integrating Blockchain Technology in Pharmaceutical Supply Chains

This paper presents a transformative approach to enhancing transparency, security, and traceability. By utilizing a decentralized ledger system, stakeholders can access real-time data about drug provenance and distribution, thereby increasing consumer confidence and improving regulatory compliance. Existing pharmaceutical supply chains face significant challenges, including counterfeit drugs, lack of visibility, and inefficiencies in tracking products through complex logistics networks. These issues lead to financial losses, compromised patient safety, and regulatory penalties. This study proposes a novel framework, the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain using Blockchain Technology (PSC-BCT), designed to address these existing challenges. The PSC-BCT framework leverages smart contracts, distributed ledgers, and IoT integration to create a secure, transparent, and efficient supply chain ecosystem. This framework enables all participants, from manufacturers to pharmacists, to share and verify transaction data, thereby enhancing accountability and reducing the risk of fraud. The proposed method is utilized to streamline operations, reduce delays, and enhance data integrity within the pharmaceutical supply chain. By ensuring that every transaction is recorded immutably, stakeholders can verify product authenticity and track the drug's journey from production to the end consumer. The findings indicate that the PSC-BCT framework significantly improves supply chain transparency and efficiency while reducing instances of counterfeit drugs. Furthermore, the implementation of blockchain technology fosters trust among stakeholders and enhances compliance with regulatory standards, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and safety.

Stakeholder-led proactive risk assessment of medication safety in the pharmaceutical supply chain

Abstract Introduction In 2022/23, 1.08 billion medications were dispensed to patients using NHS England, at a cost of £19.04 billion1 . However, Elliot et al (2019)2 estimate every year there are 237 million medication errors at some point of the medication process, with a high associated cost. Increasingly, media is reporting medication shortages of critical medicines3 that can contribute to errors of omission. Medication errors suggests system, tasks and processes should be explored to understand if they have been poorly designed. This paper is a pre-Brexit study that examines the pharmaceutical supply chain with stakeholders. Aim To explore risk to medication safety in the pharmaceutical supply chain using qualitative interviews of stakeholders across the supply chain and proactive risk assessment method SHERPA (Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach). Method 1. Qualitative interviews with process models System process models were developed (by literature, field observations and interviewees) and employed to elicit stakeholder perceptions about risk to medication safety in 31 qualitative interviews. Participants included pharmacists, wholesalers, pharmaceutical industry representatives, regulators and policymakers. Ethical approval was granted by Cambridge LREC to include healthcare professionals and 6 patients. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using N-Vivo. 2. Focus group for SHERPA Six stakeholders participated in the SHERPA focus group4 , including pharmacists and representatives from pharmaceutical manufacturing and wholesale industries. Interview participants were invited and those that agreed, attended. The SHERPA template was completed by the group. The session was audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using N-Vivo. Results The system models led to a greater understanding of the current system ‘as-is’ and created an overview of the supply chain. SHERPA is a validated method and provided the rigour to risk assess the supply chain process and identify sources of risk. However, the error mode terminology required adjustment to healthcare. Across all supply routes, the main source of risk was failure to supply medicines that caused errors of omission and the risk of counterfeit medicines. Failure to supply resulted from shortages that take place from trading activities that result in stockpiling or exporting of medicines. A lack of robust regulation and parallel imports increased the risk of counterfeit medicines. Stakeholders highlighted deficiencies in the supply chain and poor performance of stakeholders, as medication safety concerns. In order of frequency, the deficiencies include fragmented supply chain; complacency by stakeholders; poor communication and integration across supply chain; and end-user often regarded as the pharmacist, rather than the patient. Discussion and conclusion From the findings, strategies emerged as possible solutions. These included communication of shortages in each component of supply chain; robust counterfeit strategies; use of technology (automation/digital tools); and re-design tasks and processes in dispensaries and wards. Staff training, education, and revalidation of stakeholders is vital. Key limitations in this study include biases that can occur from recruitment strategy and small sample size. The SHERPA method posed terminology problems. In conclusion, this multi-method approach reveals risk and possible solutions to improve safety and reduce cost in the NHS. It is clear this study needs to be repeated to understand the impact of Brexit and current reconfiguration of NHS.

Serialization And Aggregation Solution Overview to Combat Counterfeit Drugs in The Pharmaceutical Industry

Serialization And Aggregation Solution Overview to Combat Counterfeit Drugs in The Pharmaceutical Industry

Demonstration of an End-To-End Workflow Using Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe-Mass Spectrometry (ASAP-MS) With Real-Time Sample Recognition Software for the Identification of Falsified and Substandard Pharmaceutical Tablets.

Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a subclass of falsified and substandard medicines. They are illicit products, purporting to be genuine medicines, that are made and sold by criminal organisations. They represent a significant risk to patient safety, as well as a financial and reputational threat to the companies who make the genuine medicines. It is essential to have analytical methods to determine if suspect samples seized by law enforcement agencies are counterfeit, with mass spectrometry (MS) being a commonly used technique in forensic cases. Speed-to-answer is vital to enable law enforcement agencies to progress investigations, as well as for pharmaceutical companies so that they can notify health authorities of the circulation of counterfeit medicines. In this work, an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP)-MS was assessed as a fast and simple-to-use approach to analyse tablets on a commercially available instrument. Complementing the analytics with real-time sample recognition software demonstrated that the classification of tablets as authentic or counterfeit could be achieved quickly (< 2 min) and without the need for MS interpretation skills. Authentication of five tablets (two authentic pharmaceuticals, one placebo and two counterfeits containing the correct active pharmaceutical ingredient [API] but at lower quantities than in the genuine medicine and with different excipient contents) of unknown origin was achieved with 100% success. This creates the opportunity to deploy the end-to-end workflow as a tool for non-scientists, such as law enforcement officers and border control staff, for use in-territory to obtain fast answers and make data-led decisions to control the illegal trading of medicines.

Blockchain Technology: A Revolutionary Tool Against Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals

Counterfeit pharmaceuticals pose a significant global health threat, with dire consequences ranging from ineffective treatment to severe health complications and death. This paper explores how blockchain technology (BCT) can revolutionize the fight against counterfeit drugs and enhance healthcare integrity. Counterfeit drugs are defined as medications falsely claiming their source, efficacy, or validity, often containing incorrect amounts of active ingredients or harmful substances, leading to various adverse patient outcomes. Counterfeit drugs remain prevalent, especially in countries labeled as LMICs, with 13.6% an estimate of medications being counterfeit, resulting in financial repercussions exceeding $200 billion. Blockchain technology offers a robust solution to these challenges through its decentralized, tamper-proof digital ledger system. Each transaction recorded on the blockchain is immutable and transparent, ensuring data integrity and preventing unauthorized alterations. This technology can significantly enhance drug traceability, allowing stakeholders to verify the authenticity of medications from manufacture to patient delivery. Blockchain technology's promise to enhance transparency, efficiency, and security in healthcare is compelling. Its adoption can lead to a more resilient, equitable, and patient-centric healthcare ecosystem, reducing counterfeit drugs and improving overall patient care. As blockchain solutions mature and gain acceptance, their impact on the healthcare value chain—from drug discovery to patient care—will become increasingly significant, driving innovation and advancing global health and well-being.

Public perceptions of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria and the European Union

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the perception and experience of counter pharmaceuticals in Nigeria compared to the European Union. Design/methodology/approach The findings from this paper are based upon a survey of 362 Nigerians sourced in public places with the data and then compared results from a survey by the European Union. Findings The key findings from this research showed some areas of similarity between Nigerians and Europeans on their views on the acceptability of purchasing counterfeits. However, Nigerians were more open to purchasing counterfeits despite the risks. There was also more anxiety over the risk of purchasing counterfeit medicines compared to the European Union. Research limitations/implications Due to security issues, survey data could only be sourced from Abuja, Lagos and the relatively peaceful southwestern region of Nigeria. The data is, therefore, not representative of Nigeria. Practical implications The purchasing experience of counterfeit medicines by Nigerians along with their anxieties highlights the need for more enforcement action to tackle this problem and reassure the public. Social implications The paper highlights the challenges of securing genuine pharmaceutical products in the Global South and the need for more greater cross-border action to tackle the problem. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first survey of Nigerian citizens on this issue.

Identification Analysis of Angelicae sinensis radix and Angelicae pubescentis radix Based on Quantized "Digital Identity" and UHPLC-QTOF-MSE Analysis.

Angelicae sinensis radix (ASR) and Angelicae pubescentis radix (APR), as traditional herbal medicines, are often confused and doped in the material market. However, the traditional identification method is to characterize the whole herb with a single or a few components, which do not have representation and cannot realize the effective utilization of unknown components. Consequently, the result is not convincing. In addition, the whole process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To avoid the confusion and adulteration of ASR and APR as well as to strengthen quality control and improve identification efficiency, in this study, a UHPLC-QTOF-MSE method was used to analyze ASR and APR. Based on digital representation, the shared data with high ionic strength were extracted from different batches of the same herbal medicine as their "digital identity". Further, the above "digital identity" was used as the benchmark for matching and identifying unknown samples to feedback on matching credibility (MC). The results showed that based on the "digital identities" of ASR and APR, the digital identification of two herbal samples can be realized efficiently and accurately at the individual level. And the matching credibility (MC) was higher than 94.00%, even if only 1% of APR or ASR in the mixed samples can still be identified efficiently and accurately. The study is of great practical significance for improving the efficiency of the identification of ASR and APR, cracking down on adulterated and counterfeit drugs, and strengthening the quality control of ASR and APR. In addition, it has important reference significance for developing nontargeted digital identification of herbal medicines at the individual level based on UHPLC-QTOF-MSE and "digital identity", which is beneficial to the construction of digital Chinese medicine and digital quality control.

Blockchain-Based Secured Drug Traceability in Health Care Application

Despite the enormous advancements in technology, fraudsters continue to attack the healthcare industry. Numerous recent healthcare security breaches indicate that attackers are focussing on the electronic health data and the drug supply chain. Additional investigation into security problems in the healthcare sector demonstrates that the primary cause of these incidents is the centralisation of data storage. The healthcare sector also lacks immutability, adaptability, security, and privacy in addition to having insufficient documentation. It has been discovered that blockchain technology may offer a complete solution to the main issues the healthcare industry is now facing. Healthcare issues may be resolved with the aid of blockchain's intrinsic qualities, which include immutability, transparency, privacy, security, and documentation. In this work, an interactive blockchain 2.0 medication supply chain tracking system is created, and Hyperledger Calliper is used to measure the system's performance. This system makes sure that everyone involved in the drug supply chain can follow the drug's journey from the producer to the end user. The members' own inventory management is also aided by it. In addition to providing privacy and transparency, this method offers a viable remedy for the issues associated with counterfeit drugs. With one ordered peer and one endorsed peer, the system can process 25,000 transactions per second.

A Deep Learning Model for Detecting Fake Medical Images to Mitigate Financial Insurance Fraud

A Deep Learning Model for Detecting Fake Medical Images to Mitigate Financial Insurance Fraud

Reimagining healthcare supply chains: a systematic review on digital transformation with specific focus on efficiency, transparency and responsiveness

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to comprehensively explore the impact of digitalization on healthcare supply chains (HcSCs). It seeks to understand how digital technologies enhance efficiency, transparency and responsiveness within these complex logistical systems. The study aims to provide a holistic view of the transformative potential of digitalization in the healthcare sector, with a particular focus on improving patient care and streamlining operational processes.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs a systematic review methodology, carefully curating a selection of 45 relevant articles from 66 articles rigorously screened using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to provide a holistic view. It follows established systematic review protocols, incorporating a meticulous search strategy and precise keyword selection. The chosen research design enables a comprehensive examination of the existing body of knowledge concerning digital platforms, real-time tracking technologies, transparency and responsiveness in the context of HcSCs.FindingsThe findings of this study emphasize the pivotal role of digital technologies in reshaping HcSCs. Digital platforms, real-time tracking systems and technological integrations substantially enhance efficiency, transparency and responsiveness. Data-driven decision-making, improved communication and agile responses to dynamic demands are key aspects. These findings underscore the transformative impact of digitalization on healthcare logistics, emphasizing the potential for streamlined operations, enhanced patient care and more efficient resource allocation.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the systematic methodology, this study is subject to certain limitations. It relies on existing literature, which may not cover the most recent developments in the rapidly evolving field of digital HcSCs. Furthermore, the study may be influenced by publication bias. The implications suggest the need for continued research to explore emerging digital technologies and their effects on healthcare logistics, ensuring that supply chains remain agile and responsive.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of this research are significant for HcSC managers with insights into digital technologies to enhance transparency and collaboration and improve resource visibility. The integration of data analytics can lead to more effective inventory management and demand forecasting. Blockchain (BC) technology can ensure transparent and secure transactions, fostering trust among stakeholders. For practitioners, this research offers actionable guidance for navigating the digital age, promoting operational efficiency and ensuring a consistent supply of essential medical products. Researchers can use these insights as a foundation for further exploration into the potential of digitalization in HcSCs.Social implicationsThe social implications of digitalization in HcSCs are far-reaching. They encompass improved patient care, as digital technologies enhance the efficiency, transparency and responsiveness of supply chains. This translates to better access to critical medical supplies, potentially reducing healthcare disparities and benefiting underserved populations. Enhanced patient safety is a significant social outcome, as transparent and secure transactions enabled by technologies like BC mitigate the risks associated with counterfeit medications. Furthermore, digitalization builds trust among stakeholders, promotes accountability and fosters resilient healthcare systems, which are capable of responding effectively to crises. It also has the potential to make healthcare more affordable, contributing to increased healthcare access and transparency in decision-making.Originality/valueThe originality and value of this study lie in its comprehensive synthesis of diverse findings related to digitalization in HcSCs. While prior studies have examined isolated facets of digital technology adoption, this research provides a comprehensive overview. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the transformative potential of digitalization within the healthcare sector, offering practical approaches to enhance patient care and streamline operations.

Особенности политики по развитию государственного контроля за фармацевтическим производством в современной России

The article reveals the policy of development of state control over pharmaceutical production in the Russian Federation at the present stage. The author reveals the concept of control and supervisory activities and defines them as identical based on the goals set for these concepts and methods for achieving them. The principles underlying control and supervisory activities are identified, which are divided into general and special based on belonging to one or more industries. Decomposition of the totality of legal acts regulating the industry of activity is carried out to a separate regulatory requirement, which is defined as a measured unit of compliance with legal norms. The main threats existing at this stage in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as mechanisms aimed at countering these threats, are considered. The experience and problems of introducing control and accounting labeling of medicines in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic are considered. The author analyzes experience of the annual operation Pangea XIV, carried out jointly by health authorities and law enforcement agencies of several countries and aimed at combating the production and trafficking of counterfeit medicines and medical devices around the world, and also reviews law enforcement under articles related to offenses in the field of production and sales of pharmaceuticals. As a result, there is an increase in the number of offenses in the pharmaceutical industry, and there is an increasing role of information technology in the production and sale of counterfeit pharmaceutical products. At the end of the article, a conclusion is formulated, which lists the main directions for improving control and supervisory activities in the Russian Federation at the present stage. The main means of developing control and supervisory activities is the digitalization of the industry, the main tools of which are development of relevant registers of regulatory requirements and control and accounting labeling of medicines.

Drug Tracing System Using Blockchain Technology

Healthcare supply chains are complicated networks that span various departmental and geographical limits and provide the foundation for many benefits that are necessary for everyday life .The difficulties of this systems can result in contaminations such as erroneous data and lack of clarity and poor data origin. one issue of present supply chain restrictions is the production of counterfeit drugs, which not only has negative impact on people health but also has negative impact on financial status of pharmaceutical business. A recent research emphasised the importance of a well founded end-to-end track and trace system for health care supply chains .The smart contract ensures data provenance and gives all participants access to a secure unalterable transaction history .Moreover, it eliminates the need for intermediaries we give a high-level overview of thesystem architecture and algorithms that form the basis of the key elements of our proposed solution. we test and analyse the system to find how effectively it can enhance traceabilityinside health care supply chains before providing a cost and security analysis Keywords— Drug Counterfeiting , Supply Chain, Blockchain, Traceability, Healthcare, Trust, Securit

Designing and implementing a resilient immutability mechanism for enhanced supply chain management in E-healthcare systems

Counterfeit drugs pose significant health risks due to their variable efficacy and potential harmful ingredients. To combat this issue, a reliable and secure track-and-trace system is essential for pharmaceutical supply chains. This paper proposes an Immutable and Decentralized Pharma (IDP) model, leveraging blockchain technology to ensure the safe and efficient distribution of medications. The IDP model utilizes smart contracts to record transactions between entities onto a blockchain, enabling end-to-end product tracking and provenance. Experimental results on a polygon blockchain test network demonstrate the feasibility and enhanced security of the IDP model in a collaborative environment. Our solution addresses the challenges of data privacy, openness, and authenticity inherent in centralized track-and-trace systems, providing a promising approach to eliminate counterfeits and guarantee product safety in pharmaceutical supply chains.

Blockchain adoption of pharmaceutical firms in a competitive market: Pricing, drug traceability and consumer awareness

To cope with counterfeit drugs reaching consumers all over the world, pharmaceutical firms increasingly regard blockchain technology (BCT) as a promising solution to achieve drug traceability. This study proposes a game-theoretic model to investigate the impact of BCT adoption on pharmaceutical firms’ pricing and performance in a competitive market, where one firm offers a branded drug and the other offers a generic version. We consider three contrastive cases with no BCT adoption, unilateral BCT adoption of the branded drug firm and bilateral BCT adoption and characterize consumer traceability awareness, which represents the fraction of consumers sensitive to drug traceability. We find that when BCT is unilaterally adopted, a high consumer traceability awareness level may lead to either higher or lower drug prices. The bilateral adoption of BCT always benefits the generic drug firm due to the enhanced drug traceability, but may damage the branded drug firm attributed to the mitigated differentiation between the two drugs. Compared with the unilateral adoption of BCT, bilaterally adopting BCT can lead to a win-win or lose-lose outcome, depending on the trade-off of drug traceability, drug differentiation and pricing competition. In addition, the adoption of BCT improves consumer welfare when consumers hold a high level of traceability awareness.

Evaluation of the Combination Effects of Extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis and Adansonia digitata on Clinical Fungal Isolates

Introduction: The proliferation of fake drugs and the multiple resistance seen in conventional fungicidal drugs has led to the use of medicinal plants to treat fungal infections. There are claims that Jatropha tanjorensis and Adansonia digitata have fungicidal potentials, hence this study. Aim: To evaluate the combination effects of the extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis and Adansonia digitata on clinical fungal isolates. Study Design: Randomized sampling of the plants was done by harvesting the plants from different farm in Nsukka Enugu State. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Enugu State, South East of Nigeria, from November 2023 to March 2024. Methodology: Phytochemical screening was done on the two plants. The methanolic and aqueous (cold and hot) extracts of these plants bark and stem were assessed for their antifungal activities against six fungal isolates using agar diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were done according to standard methods. Results: The plants contain alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, tannin, glycoside and phenol. The hot water extracts of J. tanjorensis stem gave higher zones of inhibition diameter (IZD) than the methanolic extracts and the methanolic extracts of A. digitata bark gave higher IZD than the aqueous extracts. The combination of these two potent extracts showed greatest inhibition on Aspergillus niger, Candida albican and then least inhibition on Trichophyton shoenleinii, this was found to be statistically significant at (P&lt;.05), the P value was (P=0.001). The lowest (MIC) and (MFC) were recorded in A. niger and Candida albican at (1.5625mg/ml) while the highest (MIC) and (MFC) were recorded in T. shoenleinii, at (25mg/ml). Conclusion: This study revealed that the combined plant extracts were more effective against opportunistic fungi than the dermatophytes.

Discrimination of some expired and unexpired drugs under different conditions using Fourier Transform infrared-Attenuated Total Reflectance

Repackaging of expired medicines has become common in developed countries and can cause serious health problems. Therefore, the identification of these products is of considerable importance. This study investigated the applicability of an analytical method based on Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for separating two types of expired and non-expired tablets. The study focuses on vildagliptin, collagen, and vitamin tablets and represents a preliminary study for different types of tablets. Instrumental conditions were determined by central composite design. As a result of the the variance analysis, it was found that the pressure parameter was significant, while the number of scans and resolution were insignificant. The optimum instrumental conditions were determined as attenuated total reflection module pressure 57, scan number 20, and spectral resolution 4 cm−1. Derivatizing spectra were used to find major peaks that make a significant difference. As a result of principal component analysis, PC1 in the 92-96.9% and PC2 in the range of 6.6-3% range explained the total variance. In the results obtained, significant discrimination and clustering between the species were seen, and for all three species, expired and non-expired drug samples with different storage conditions could be separated. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy can be helpful in screening for counterfeit drugs as it is easy to use and requires little sample preparation. It is also thought that this approach may be helpful for the initial evaluation of repackaged tablets.

Digital identification and adulteration analysis of Pulsatilla Radix and Pulsatilla Cernua based on “digital identity” and UHPLC-QTOF-MSE

Under the background of digitalization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), to realize the quick identification and adulteration analysis of Pulsatilla Radix (PR), adhering to digital conviction, this study conducted UHPLC-QTOF-MSE analysis on PR and its adulterant-Pulsatilla Cernua (PC) from different batches and based on digital conversion, the shared ions were extracted from different batches of PR and PC as their “ions representation”, respectively. Further, the data set of unique ions of PR relative to PC and PC relative to PR were screened out as the “digital identities” of PR and PC respectively. Further, above the “digital identities” of PR and PC were used as the benchmarks for matching and identifying to feedback give a matching credibility (MC). The results showed that based on the “digital identities” of PR and PC, the digital identification of two herbal samples can be realized efficiently and accurately at the individual level with the MC≥70.00 %, even if 5 % of PC in the mixed samples can still be identified efficiently and accurately. The study is of great practical significance for improving the identification efficiency of PR and PC, cracking down on adulterated and counterfeit drugs, and strengthening the quality control of PR. In addition, it has important reference significance for developing non-targeted digital identification of herbal medicines at the individual level based on UHPLC-QTOF-MSE and the “digital identity”, which was beneficial to the construction of digital Chinese medicine and digital quality control.

Online Counterfeit Drugs in Point View of National Laws and Maqashid Sharia

Online Counterfeit Drugs in Point View of National Laws and Maqashid Sharia

Fingerprinting Organofluorine Molecules via Position-Specific Isotope Analysis.

Organofluorine substances are found in a wide range of materials and solvents commonly used in industry and homes, as well as pharmaceuticals and pesticides. In the environment, organofluorine molecules are now recognized as an important class of anthropogenic pollutants. Fingerprinting organofluorine compounds via their carbon isotope ratios (13C/12C) is crucial for correlating molecules with their source. Here we apply a 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) technique to obtain the first position-specific carbon isotope ratios for a diverse set of organofluorine molecules. In contrast to traditional isotope ratio mass spectrometry, the 19F NMR method provides 13C/12C isotope ratios at each carbon position where a C-F bond is present, and does not require fragmentation or combustion to CO2, overcoming challenges posed by the robust C-F covalent bonds. The method was validated with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and applied to analyze heptafluorobutanoic acid, 5-fluorouracil and fipronil. Results reveal distinct intramolecular carbon isotope distributions, enabling differentiation of chemically identical molecules. Notably, the NMR method accurately analyzes carbon isotopes within target molecules despite impurities. Potential applications include the detection of counterfeit products and drugs, and ultimately pollution tracking in the environment.