Pharmaceutical Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is a spectroscopic method utilized by pharmaceutical researchers and developers. Raman spectroscopy offers several advantages for microscopic analysis. Since it is a light scattering technique, specimens don’t need to be fixed or sectioned. Additionally, Raman spectra can be collected from a very small volume; these spectra allow the identification of species present in that volume. Water does not generally interfere with Raman spectral analysis. Thus, Raman spectroscopy is suitable for the microscopic examination of materials, cells, proteins and other biologic compounds.

In Raman imaging, the whole field of view is examined for light scattering integrated over a small range of wavenumbers or Raman shifts. Monochromatic light, e.g., a laser beam, is beamed into a sample and the substance is then analyzed for resulting molecular deformations. These molecular deformations occur in the electric field around a molecule and are referred to as inelastic scattering. Inelastic scattering is an identifying component of the Raman effect. Raman spectroscopy is versatile and can be used to analyze compounds in solid, liquid, and gaseous states.