Agilent Molecular Spectroscopy Solutions For the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries

Importance of the topic

Molecular spectroscopy plays a critical role in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, enabling rapid, non-destructive analysis from early-stage drug discovery through manufacturing release testing. It supports structural confirmation, purity assessment, and real-time process monitoring, accelerating workflows, reducing sample preparation, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Objectives and overview of the study

This application note presents Agilent’s portfolio of molecular spectroscopy solutions tailored for pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing. It outlines key instruments—UV-Vis, fluorescence, FTIR, Raman, and chemical imaging—and demonstrates how they address analytical requirements at each stage: basic research, drug development, and production quality control.

Methodology and instrumentation

• Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (Cary 60, Cary 3500): versatile UV-Vis spectrophotometers with fiber-optic probes, multicell temperature control (0–110 °C), and high-throughput capabilities.
• Fluorescence Spectroscopy (Cary Eclipse): multifunctional fluorometer supporting fluorescence, phosphorescence, chemiluminescence, and time-resolved measurements with microplate reader and ultrafast kinetics accessories.
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Cary 630 FTIR): compact FTIR with interchangeable ATR and transmission modules meeting global pharmacopeial standards for material identification and quantification.
• Transmission Raman Spectroscopy (TRS 100): rapid, non-destructive content uniformity and assay of oral solid dosages without sample dissolution.
• Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (Vaya, RapID): portable SORS instruments for through-packaging raw material verification in opaque containers.

Main results and discussion

Agilent instruments deliver significant performance improvements:

• Cary 60 offers sub-second kinetics and low-volume measurements down to 4 µL, with fiber probes minimizing pipetting errors.
• Cary 3500’s multicell, no-moving-parts design accelerates parallel thermal studies and standardization across eight cuvettes.
• Cary 630 simplifies polymer verification and pharmaceutical packaging analysis with easy swapping of sampling modules.
• TRS 100 reduces QC bottlenecks by obtaining content uniformity and identity data in ~15 minutes for intact tablets.
• Vaya and RapID enable non-invasive API and excipient identification through multilayer packaging in under 30 seconds.

Benefits and practical applications

The described methods enhance laboratory efficiency by minimizing sample preparation, enabling high throughput, and ensuring data integrity. Applications span lead optimization, reaction monitoring, stability studies, polymorph screening, raw material verification, and batch release testing, supporting regulatory compliance and cGMP workflows.

Future trends and opportunities

Emerging directions include integration with automated workflows, in-line process analytical technology (PAT), AI-driven spectral interpretation, and further miniaturization for field-deployable testing. Expanding multimodal spectroscopy platforms and cloud connectivity will drive real-time quality assurance in continuous manufacturing.

Conclusion

Agilent’s molecular spectroscopy portfolio addresses the evolving needs of pharmaceutical laboratories from discovery to manufacturing. The combination of robust instrumentation and comprehensive support services enables faster decision-making, reliable data, and compliance with global regulations, ultimately accelerating drug development timelines and ensuring product quality.