Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) characterisation of sildenafil based products seized on the Italian illegal market
Academic Article
Publication Date:
2019
abstract:
The commerce of illegal and counterfeit medicinal products on internet is a serious criminal problem.
Drugs for erectile dysfunction such as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor are the most commonly
counterfeited medicines in Europe. The search of possible toxic chemical substances in seized products is
needed. Moreover, the profiling of the material can be the source of relevant forensic information. For the
first time a combined approach based on liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high resolution mass
spectrometry (HRMS) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is proposed and tested,
allowing characterisation of both authentic and illegal pharmaceuticals containing sildenafil seized in
Italy. LC-HRMS allowed the detection and identification of unknown impurities not reported on labels in
illegal products and the quantitation of the sildenafil. INAA showed to be suitable to provide both
qualitative and quantitative information for forensic purposes on 23 elements, allowing discrimination
between legal and illegal products.
Drugs for erectile dysfunction such as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor are the most commonly
counterfeited medicines in Europe. The search of possible toxic chemical substances in seized products is
needed. Moreover, the profiling of the material can be the source of relevant forensic information. For the
first time a combined approach based on liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high resolution mass
spectrometry (HRMS) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is proposed and tested,
allowing characterisation of both authentic and illegal pharmaceuticals containing sildenafil seized in
Italy. LC-HRMS allowed the detection and identification of unknown impurities not reported on labels in
illegal products and the quantitation of the sildenafil. INAA showed to be suitable to provide both
qualitative and quantitative information for forensic purposes on 23 elements, allowing discrimination
between legal and illegal products.
Iris type:
1.1 Articolo in rivista
Keywords:
Illegal pharmaceutical products, Neutron activation analysis, High resolution mass spectrometry,Forensic analysis,Sildenafil
List of contributors:
Romolo, Francesco Saverio; Salvini, Andrea; Zelaschi, Fabio; Oddone, Massimo; Odoardi, Sara; Mestria, Serena; Strano Rossi, Sabina
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