AFM-Raman (TERS) for nano-scale imaging of pharmaceutical solid dispersions and characterisation of nano-particles

本项目将首次研究尖端增强拉曼光谱（TERS）在药物配方成像中的应用，以期最终利用收集到的数据建立药物配方的预测模型。该项目是由制药工业对纳米级化学成像的迫切需求驱动的——现有的技术，如红外或拉曼光谱，基本上是衍射有限的，只能在300-500微米的长度范围内传递信息。TERS结合了拉曼成像的化学特异性和原子力显微镜的空间分辨率（纳米级），同时也提供了拉曼信号的潜在大规模增强（几个数量级）。阿斯利康是该项目的合作伙伴。EPSRC项目涵盖的重点研究领域包括：分析科学；化学结构;制造技术;运筹学;还有粒子技术。利用纳米技术解决药物的问题，为药物开发人员提供了一个机会，大大增加了他们的配方进入市场的机会（潜在的财务影响以数千万英镑计），然而，纳米技术是一种先进的技术，目前还没有现成的产品。因此，该项目将允许在药学相关的环境中使用TERS，并使丰富的新科学成为可能，同时也使阿斯利康能够评估是否对该技术进行进一步研究。该项目结合了尖端科学（复杂混合物的相分离、药物失效机制、先进分析方法的新应用领域）和明确的商业和工业需求，因此非常适合EPSRC资助

This project will investigate for the first time the application of Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (TERS) to imaging of pharmaceutical formulations, with a view to ultimately using the data gathered to build a predictive model for medicine formulation. The project is driven by an urgent unmet need in pharmaceutical industry for chemical imaging at the nano-scale - existing techniques such as infra-red or Raman spectroscopy are essentially diffraction-limited and can only deliver information at a length scale of 300-500 microns. TERS combines the chemical specificity of Raman imaging with the spatial resolution of atomic-force microscopy (nano-metres), while also offering a potential massive enhancement of Raman signal (several orders of magnitude). AstraZeneca are the project partners. Key EPSRC research areas covered by the project include: analytical science; chemical structure; manufacturing technologies; operational research; and particle technology. The use of TERS to provide answers to problems with medicines which originate at the nanoscale offers an opportunity for medicine developers to greatly increase the chance of their formulations entering the market (potential financial impact measured in tens of millions of pounds), however TERS is an advanced technology not yet available off-the-shelf. The project will therefore allow the use of TERS in a pharmaceutically relevant setting and enable a wealth of new science, while also enabling AstraZeneca to evaluate whether to pursue further research into this technique.The project combines cutting-edge science (phase separation in complex mixtures, mechanisms of medicine failure, new application areas for advanced analysis methods) with a clear commercial and industrial need, and is therefore very well placed for EPSRC funding