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Molecules from the surface of any samples are removed (sputtered) through the process of ToF-SIMS which involves the use of a pulsed primary ion beam. The mass of the sputtered secondary ions is determined by means of a time-of-flight mass analyzer. The mass analysis of all secondary ions which are produced by a short primary ion pulse. From the time needed to travel along a given drift path, the mass of each secondary ion can be calculated. In this way, an accurate determination of the flight time yields the chemical composition of the emitted ions and thus the elemental and molecular composition of the sample surface. The ToF-SIMS analysis can be carried out in three operational modes: surface spectroscopy, depth profiling, and surface imaging. Features of ToF-SIMS include: high mass resolution, a high mass range of secondary ions, identification of isotopes, identification of elemental and molecular compounds, analysis of insulating and conductive sample
New method provides greater quality control and safety of heparin drug news-medical.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news-medical.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit: University of Nottingham
A new method to analyse the blood thinning drug Heparin has been developed that can pinpoint contaminants more accurately and quickly, providing greater quality control and safety.
An interdisciplinary team from the University of Nottingham s Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine have used the latest chemical imaging technology to identify contaminants in Heparin at the nanoscale, a discovery that manufacturers could use to improve the quality and safety of this widely used anticoagulant drug. The research has been published in
Communications Chemistry.
Heparin is naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan (GAG) but is also widely used widely as a medication. It is often used as an anticoagulant (blood thinner) before and after surgery but is also used in kidney dialysis and in blood processing. Pharmaceutical-grade heparin is derived from mucosal tissues of pig intestines or cow lungs. The majority of Heparin is made in China and in 2008 there were a numb