Researchers at Penza State University have unveiled a neural network system that can confirm the authenticity of liquid medicines with unprecedented clarity. In testing against real pharmaceutical samples, the method demonstrated perfect accuracy, delivering results in roughly ten minutes. This breakthrough was shared with socialbites.ca by university representatives.
Data from Roszdravnadzor indicate troubling quality trends in domestic pharmaceutical production, with low-quality batches accounting for 71.9 percent in the first nine months of 2022 and foreign medicines showing a 28.1 percent rate of substandard quality. The most dangerous quality violations are those that can be hard to spot, such as drug falsification close to expiration or improper storage.
Typically, assessing liquid medicine quality requires specialized equipment and costly consumables. The PSU team proposes a more economical approach based on examining surface tension and tensiometric properties of a drug drop. The device records the drop’s shape and volume automatically, and the software, including the neural network, compares these tensiometric properties against a standard sample to determine authenticity.
Testing covered ten drugs including albumin, analgin, mannitol, gelofusin, baralgin, drotaverin, ketanov, ketorolac, no-shpa, and ketorol. The results showed the ability to detect counterfeit products in every single case tested.
Experts say this method could help address the widespread problem of substandard and expired medicines. By focusing on the physicochemical properties of liquids, the technique offers a fast, practical way to identify low-quality drugs in clinical settings and distribution channels alike. The lead researcher, Dmitry Kireev, a student at the PSU Medical Institute, explained the potential impact to socialbites.ca. Source: Penza State University study.
The researchers envision practical deployment across healthcare facilities and in organizations involved in the manufacture and sale of medicines. Plans for the next phase include developing a more compact and affordable version of the device that measures voltage characteristics, aiming to reduce overall costs while preserving accuracy. This progression could make robust quality verification accessible in broader settings and help ensure safer medicines for patients across Canada and the United States, underlining a longer-term potential for international adoption. Source: Penza State University study.