Terry Shyu, MSE PhD Student, demonstrates use of nanopillars that reveal hidden images via condensation of fluid on the structures. Image credit: Joseph Xu
An outline of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic face appeared on the clear, plastic film when a researcher fogs it with her breath.
Terry Shyu, a doctoral student in chemical engineering at the University of Michigan, was demonstrating a new high-tech label for fighting drug counterfeiting. While the researchers don’t envision movie stars on medicine bottles, but they used Monroe’s image to prove their concept.
Counterfeit drugs, which at best contain wrong doses and at worst are toxic, are thought to kill more than 700,000 people per year. While less than 1 percent of the U.S. pharmaceuticals market is believed to be counterfeit, it is a huge problem in the developing world where as much as a third of the available medicine is fake.
To fight back against these and other forms of counterfeiting, researchers at U-M and in South Korea have developed a way to make labels that change when you breathe on them, revealing a hidden image.
“One challenge in fighting counterfeiting is the need to stay ahead of the counterfeiters,” said Nicholas Kotov, the Joseph B. and Florence V. Cejka Professor of Chemical Engineering who led the Michigan effort.
The method requires access to sophisticated equipment that can create very tiny features, roughly 500 times smaller than the width of a human hair. But once the template is made, labels can be printed in large rolls at a cost of roughly one dollar per square inch. That’s cheap enough for companies to use in protecting the reputation of their products—and potentially the safety of their consumers.
Read more . . .
The Latest on: Counterfeit medications
via Google News
The Latest on: Counterfeit medications
- Wisconsin counties see a spike in drug overdoses linked to counterfeit pillson August 11, 2022 at 2:25 pm
Drug enforcement officers say most overdose cases today are users buying heroin or other drugs on the street and not knowing it’s laced with fentanyl or wrongly thinking they can handle a higher ...
- Cabinet approves draft act with provision for 10-yr jail for producing counterfeit medicineson August 11, 2022 at 3:25 am
The cabinet today (August 11, 2022) approved the draft Drugs Act, 2022 with the provision of a maximum of 10-year jail term and Tk 10 lakh fine for producing counterfeit medicines.
- Mt Hope: Multi-Drug Seizure of Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, Crystal Meth and Counterfeit Pillson August 8, 2022 at 9:36 pm
A court-authorized search of an apartment in the Mount Hope neighborhood of The Bronx resulted in the seizure of approximately 110 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, plus 50 pounds of a ...
- Increase in animal tranquilizer found in illegal drugson August 8, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Local non-profit Tapestry Health is warning more than half of all illegal drugs tested in our area are coming up positive with an animal tranquilizer. It comes with updated guidance if you see ...
- Hampden DA hosting counterfeit drug info session for Ludlow high school studentson August 8, 2022 at 9:48 am
Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni and area first responders will host a free informational session educating youth and parents about the dangers of accidental poisoning through internet ...
- How to prevent purchasing counterfeit pills and drugs onlineon August 8, 2022 at 8:17 am
An educational event is being held at the Ludlow High School to help prevent accidental poisoning from counterfeit pills and drugs.
- Detectives seize over 22 pounds of cannabis, 17,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, other illegal drugson August 5, 2022 at 3:42 pm
A Santa Maria man was arrested on Thursday after detectives found around 17,000 fake M30 fentanyl pills, over 22 pounds of cannabis flower, and other illegal drugs ...
- Spring Hill woman caught with counterfeit cash, drugson August 4, 2022 at 12:44 pm
Hill woman is facing multiple charges after deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) found counterfeit bills and a cache of drugs during a search of her vehicle. In March, an employee ...
- Counterfeit, Black Market Abortion Pills Flood Internet With Help of Corporate Mediaon August 1, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Unregulated online vendors pose a threat to the health of women by illegally selling abortion pills which may be expired or counterfeit, according to a report in Politico. Several media outlets ...
- Counterfeit, Black Market Abortion Pills Are Flooding The Internet — With Help From Corporate Mediaon August 1, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Counterfeit, Black Market Abortion Pills Are Flooding The Internet — With Help From Corporate Media Laurel Duggan on August 1, 2022 Vendors have flooded ...
via Bing News
