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

Francesco Saverio Romolo*, Andrea Salvini, F. Zelaschi, Massimo Oddone, Sara Odoardi, Serena Mestria, Sabina Strano Rossi

*Corresponding author

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

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.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)126-136
Number of pages11
JournalForensic Science International: Synergy
Volume1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Forensic analysis
  • High resolution mass spectrometry
  • Illegal pharmaceutical products
  • Neutron activation analysis
  • Sildenafil

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