Morphologi G3 Helps Identify Particulate Contaminants
Malvern Instruments have coupled automated image analysis-based particle characterization with Raman spectroscopy, providing a new tool to quickly and easily characterize the chemical ID of sparse samples.
The ability to physically and chemically characterize dispersed particles is important in a variety of application areas, from orally inhaled and nasal drug products (OINDP) and foreign/contaminant ID to bacteria identification. The traditional approach of mapping and chemical imaging of sparse samples in which the material of interest covers as little as 0.5% of the overall sampling area, is time consuming, inefficient and at times simply unworkable.
The new Morphologi G3-ID integrates automated image analysis of particles from 0.5μm – 10mm with chemical identification provided by Raman microscopy - a powerful, easy to use, non-destructive chemical ID approach, with high molecular specificity. Automated image analysis-based particle characterization provides an accurate and reproducible way to characterize the size, shape, and location of dispersed particles.
The (x,y) coordinates of all particles are recorded and saved thus replaces the time consuming “hunt and peck” method of locating particles. Specific particles of interest can be reliably targeted for Raman spectroscopy, while background contribution (such as contamination, dust, etc.) can be excluded, greatly simplifying the process of targeting only relevant particles for further chemical ID analysis. Hence, only the minimum number of Raman spectra are acquired to draw a relevant analytical conclusion which can provide tremendous time savings.
Sparse samples can be completely characterized in a few simple steps.
1. SOP-driven visual image capture of a sparse sample
2. Morphological analysis and classification of particles
3. Raman spectral acquisition of statistically significant number of representative particles
4. Chemical ID and library classification of selected particles
