Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Honors Paper
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Sarah E. G. Porter, Ph.D.
Abstract
Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are an increasing trend in the world of criminal activity because the business of making fake pharmaceuticals is highly profitable. The scientific community needs to develop clear-cut methods of detection for counterfeit pharmaceuticals because this is an issue that affects human health and because the use of prescription drugs is so prevalent. This study used high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence spectroscopy to produce qualitative and quantitative data about quinine, mefloquine and choloroquine. These were studied because they are common anti-malarial drugs used in developing nations and they are often counterfeited. Tablet mixtures meant to replicate pharmaceutical tablets were prepared and analyzed using HPLC to have concentrations ranging from 11 to 62 ppm. Fluorescence spectroscopy determined suitable emission and excitation wavelengths for quinine and mefloquine to be 455 nm and 250 nm respectively and 465 nm and 365 nm for chloroquine.
Recommended Citation
Irby, Andrea, "Detecting counterfeit Anti-malarials through Comparison between High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography and other Methods of Analysis" (2011). Theses & Honors Papers. 23.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/etd/23
