Determining the time to availability of therapeutic pharmaceuticals after ingestion is a major problem in pharmacokinetics. Thymol is a naturally occurring agent with proven antimicrobial activity. It is widely used for common cold symptoms. To determine its availability in the respiratory system, a V&F breath analysis must be performed.
Background
Solution
Ion Molecular Reaction Mass Spectrometry (IMR-MS) is a sophisticated method used in breath analysis. The V&F AirSense can be used to measure changes in the composition of exhaled air in real-time. Due to the high sensitivity of the instrument down to concentrations in the billionth range, the availability of thymol in the lungs has been detected as early as 5 minutes after ingestion of a tablet containing 300 mg of the ingredient.
Advantages
Breath analysis using IMR-MS represents a state-of-the-art technology that facilitates accurate pharmacokinetic studies. V&Fmass spectrometers can determine administered substances or their metabolic products exchanged at the interface between the bloodstream and the respiratory tract. Measurements can be made either at the mouth or at the nose on a breath-by-breath basis to provide time-resolved bioavailability data.
Reference clients (excerpt)
