Researchers led by Jakub Kaminský from the Petr Bouř Group in collaboration with colleagues from UCT Prague and Palacký University Olomouc explored advanced spectroscopical methods for pharmaceutical use. They applied polarized Raman microscopy to differentiate three polymorphs of sofosbuvir, an antiviral drug used to treat hepatitis C.
Distinguishing between the different forms (polymorphs) of sofosbuvir is crucial because each form can affect the drug's behavior in the body. The solubility, stability and the drug's effect depend on the exact crystal structure. If the wrong form ends up in a pill, it could make the medicine less effective or harder for the body to absorb.
By combining experimental data and computational simulations, the team demonstrated that linearly and circularly polarized Raman spectroscopy could provide detailed insights into the structural differences between polymorphs. These techniques revealed unique spectral markers crucial for distinguishing between solid-state forms of sofosbuvir.
Their approach highlights the potential of polarized Raman microscopy for pharmaceutical quality control, offering a non-destructive and precise method to ensure drug consistency.
Read the paper: Schrenková, V.; Kapitán, J.; Bouř, P.; Chatziadi, A.; Sklenář, A.; Kaminský, J. Sofosbuvir Polymorphs Distinguished by Linearly and Circularly Polarized Raman Microscopy. Anal. Chem. 2024, Article ASAP. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03573
