Integrated identification and detection of hydration state and its evolution using terahertz technology

Area of Science:

• Spectroscopy and Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Accurate detection of dehydration in hydrated drugs is crucial for pharmaceutical science, food safety, and biophysics.
• Understanding intermolecular vibration modes mediated by hydrogen bonds is key to drug stability and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize terahertz (THz) technology for investigating the dehydration state of d(+)-Raffinose pentahydrate (Rf·5H2O).
• To establish an innovative platform for integrated identification, trace detection, and application of THz technology in analyzing hydrated substances.

Main Methods:

• Employing terahertz (THz) technology with imaging-based point-by-point scanning data acquisition.
• Utilizing absorbance spectra data from individual pixels to construct visualized THz images.
• Developing a THz spectra-barcode conversion system for electronic recordkeeping and user readability.

Main Results:

• Dynamically monitoring the dehydration process of Rf·5H2O through the evolution of THz absorption peaks.
• Achieving more precise results compared to traditional methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy.
• Detecting ultralow minimum content of 0.032 μg/(50 μm)² with high sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• THz technology provides a highly sensitive and precise method for monitoring drug dehydration processes.
• The integrated THz platform enhances identification, trace detection, and practical application in various scientific fields.
• THz spectra-barcode conversion facilitates efficient data management and accessibility for broader use.