New Way to Use NMR Useful in Detecting Polymorphism

Polymorphism, a condition in which an active ingredient can exist in more than one crystal form (each with a potentially different impact), has long bedeviled drug makers and QA/QC departments. Researchers in the U.K. (at the University of Warwick and AstraZeneca) have discovered a new way of using NMR that can detect polymorphism in crystalline pharmaceuticals, even those in tablet form, more effectively than traditional methods. Their method (another unfortunate pharma acronym---paging Pharma Giles!): high-resolution two-dimensional 1H CRAMPS solid-state NMR, which reportedly yielded a spectrum for a tablet formulation in less than two hours (roughly the time required for the traditional  13C CP MAS one dimensional spectrum). For more, read on. AMS