Fast Lab Test Uses Microwave Plasma to Spot Drug Weaknesses

Scientists have unveiled a cutting‑edge technique that evaluates how medicines respond to light and heat simultaneously—without the lengthy prep steps of traditional methods like HPLC, DSC, or GC‑MS.

How It Works

• Microwave Plasma Torch (MPT): A tiny drug sample (just a few milligrams) is directly introduced into a plasma torch.
• Ionisation: The hot gas ionises the material, breaking it into fragments.
• Mass Spectrometry: A mass spectrometer detects and records the resulting ions in real time.

Speed & Simplicity

• Rapid Analysis: Six common drugs—chlorpheniramine, ornidazole, metronidazole, tinidazole, acetaminophen, and theophylline—were tested in roughly two minutes per tablet.
• No Sample Prep: The method bypasses the extra steps usually required, saving time and reducing potential errors.

Reliable & Insightful Results

• Consistent Degradation Order: The breakdown sequence matched earlier heat‑only studies, confirming the method’s accuracy.
• Combined Stress Patterns: When light and heat were applied together, distinct ion signatures emerged. Notably, drugs with a nitroimidazole group produced a unique ion that highlights their specific degradation pathways.

Implications

This breakthrough offers pharmaceutical researchers a powerful tool to quickly assess drug stability under realistic storage and usage conditions, potentially accelerating development timelines and enhancing patient safety.