New philosophies in pharmaceutical industry such as Quality by Design (QbD) require a detailed understanding of the properties and behaviour of drug components, including polymeric excipients such as binders and disintegrants. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC, also known as size exclusion chromatography) is a vital tool for investigating the behaviour of polymers, and is increasingly employed in pharmaceutical laboratories to investigate macromolecules. This article discusses GPC and gives examples of the use of the technique in excipient analysis.

Articles

This article discusses GPC and gives examples of the use of the technique in excipient analysis.

Understanding the Behaviour of Pharmaceutical Polymers

A team of scientists have reported in Nature on the first chemical evidence of dairy farming in prehistoric Africa in the fifth millennium BC.

 These findings were corroborated by the use of gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and gas chromatography-combustion‑isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). Analysis was carried out on organic residues extracted from pottery in the Takaskori rock shelter in the southwest Fezzan, Libyan Sahara. The majority of the pottery was dated to the Middle Pastoral (5200–3800 BC) period, while the remainder came from the Late Acacus and Early and Late Pastoral periods.

The fats were extracted and it was discovered that there was a high distribution of the C16:0 and C18:0 fatty acids, derivatives of degraded animal fats. Derivatives of plant oils were also found in a smaller number and are potentiallyy an indication of the multiple use of these vessels.

Out of the 81 pottery shards sampled, 29 were analysed by GC-C-IRMS as these were the samples that were unambiguously labelled as containing degraded animal fats. Out of this 29, 18 displayed evidence of pure animal fat origin.

The team concluded that these findings confirm that domesticated cattle and a dairying economy were an established aspect of early Saharan pastoralism.

News

Prehistoric dairy farming

Over the years there has been an on-going trend for miniaturization in life sciences. There is a similar trend in the field of chromatography. Some manufacturers have already introduced new devices on the basis of chip‑technology. Unfortunately, progress is very slow and many users are searching for “bridge technologies” like micro-LC. Although the instrumentation has matured, many practitioners are still prejudiced against micro‑LC because of long-standing notions of irreproducible gradient formation and a low robustness of commercially available instruments. This article will therefore shed some light on recent developments of micro‑LC and the possibility of applying fast separations while reducing toxic and costly solvent waste.

This article will shed some light on recent developments of micro-LC and the possibility of applying fast separations while reducing toxic and costly solvent waste.

Method Development for Fast Separation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Micro-LC - The Importance of the Dwell Volume

Back To Basics

After five weeks and visits to ten science centre zones across Europe, Merck Millipore has completed its Live Lab tour in June in Martinsried, near Munich, Germany.

The company’s Live Lab exhibition started its journey in London in mid-May with visits to University College London and Imperial College London. The Live Lab then took to the highway, winding its way to two other UK venues in Oxford and Newcastle, before continuing on to continental Europe for visits to sites in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany.

The Live Lab was designed to bring information about new technologies right to the workplace, and to save time for scientists whose busy schedules don’t allow for off-site visits. Live Lab visitors were invited to get “hands-on” experience with the Merck Millipore products in each of the labs and to test how they actually worked.

Sophie Pruvost, Merck Millipore Lab Water Market Communication Manager, and coordinator of the Live Lab Tour, commented, “Visitors to the Live Lab were impressed with the novel and modern exhibition space, and were interested in seeing so many of our products up close and all together. For example, our Lab Water purification systems were set up for real operation, with connections to a tap water supply right onboard the motor coach. It was a real advantage to have working systems right on hand to illustrate just how efficient and flexible this equipment is.”

Keltoum Benchikh, Director – Head of Global Marketing Communications Lab Water, said, “At each stop, visitors were also able to benefit from one-on-one meetings with Merck Millipore experts. As well as presenting information about our products in the easiest, most accessible manner possible, we also wanted to give Live Lab visitors the opportunity to discuss their specific situations with our application specialists during their visit, and to find out the best ways to optimize protocols or improve laboratory work flows. We had a good turnout, and we are very pleased with the results of the Live Lab Tour.”For more information please visit 

www.merckmillipore.comThis story originally appeared in 

Live Lab tour review

The Column spoke to Judit E. Puskas, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, polymer science and chemistry at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA, about the science of studying breast implants.

Alternatives to Silicone Breast Implants

Methylhexaneamine (MHA) has been in the news recently and it continues to be debated whether it is actually a constituent of geranium. In a comprehensive analysis, a team of scientists has presented evidence that it is not present in the plant in detectable amounts.

MHA has been marketed as a dietary supplement based on the argument that it is a constituent of geranium 

 leaves, stems, roots or oil. The team developed two analytical methods for the analysis of MHA in 

 using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS). The results were further confirmed using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Twenty commercial volatile oils, three authenticated volatile oils and authenticated 

 leaves and stems were analysed. In addition, three dietary supplements containing MHA which claimed 

 as the source were analysed for their MHA content.

The results obtained demonstrated that none of the authenticated 

 essential oils or plant material, nor the commercial volatile oils of contained MHA at detectable levels (limit of detection = 10 ppb). In contrast, the dietary supplements that contained MHA as one of their ingredients contained very large amounts of MHA. These amounts are not compatible with the use of reasonable amounts of 

 extract or concentrate. The team ultimately concluded that this must be because the MHA was of a synthetic origin.

Methylhexaneamine (MHA) has been in the news recently and it continues to be debated whether it is actually a constituent of geranium.

Supplement analysis

PerkinElmer, Inc., (Waltham, Massachusetts, USA) has built a personalized health innovation centre of excellence. The centre will focus on accelerating scientific innovation to help researchers who are working to eradicate disease and extend the quality and longevity of life.

The centre will bring together leaders from PerkinElmer’s chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology and reagent development R&D teams. They will focus on the development of applications solutions in genomics, imaging, biomarkers, biotherapeutics, targeted small molecule development and cell‑based assay solutions. The centre will also showcase a complete solutions-based demonstration laboratory for customers and collaborators.

The centre will be located at the company’s facility in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA, and is hoped to be fully operational by late 2012.Kevin Hrusovsky, President, Life Sciences & Technology, PerkinElmer, said, “We are delighted to establish our new centre of excellence, which will serve as an exciting example of PerkinElmer’s commitment to, and culture of, innovation. The expertise promoted by the centre will help bring novel and disruptive solutions to our customers, aiding their research in next generation treatments, early detection and disease prevention.”

www.perkinelmer.comThis story originally appeared in 

PerkinElmer, Inc., (Waltham, Massachusetts, USA) has built a personalized health innovation centre of excellence.

The Column-07-18-2012