What sort of microscope would i need to study pharmaceuticals?

Question

BP: and why dont you think so

Answer 1

Depends on what you are doing with the pharmaceuticals.  If you are just studying their synthesis or effects on whole organisms, you need no microscope.

If you are looking at their effects on single cells, you will need a good optical microscope.  There are many subtypes of these, and the one that will work best for you depends upon the application.

If you want to look at individual molecules of the pharmaceutical compounds, or the atoms comprising them, you will need a STM (scanning tunneling microscope) or AFM (atomic force microscope).

Answer 2

Depending on your needs and interests and the processes you are involved with one or several microscopes might be used. For looking at physical properties of drugs from manufacture to finished process a trinocular scope for both reflected and transmitted florescent, polarized. and light from UV to IR with a decent set of attachments and a set of chemicals and stains for tests is a very good start. A good used one fully set up would cost 10 to 20 thousand dollars. A new one at least ten time more.

You could get buy started with any model but a Junior or  Optocron 160 mm tube length Carl Zeiss made after WW II with an interchangeable nose piece, Rotary stage, Polarized light insert and condenser. From  $800 on eBay to $2000 and up from a dealer. You can add parts as you need them.

You can buy cheaper polarized light scopes but you can expand any scope as much a the post WWII Carl Zeiss scopes that amost every part fits every scope made from 1948 to some time in  1980s. They will do almost everything any new scope can do and get just as good an image and brand new scopes, They lack all the automation available on new scopes.

This kind of scope is good for identifying counterfeit drugs by comparing them under  viewing conditions wi the real thing  and  other things that visual inspection a florescent response will show and much more,

I am a light microscope guy so I don't know a lot about other scopes but there is a place for almost any type of scope you can fine somewhere in the drug business.

Ramman Infra Red scopes and properly outfitted election microscopes can identify the substance they are viewing and are seen being used in papers today.

Computers, digital cameras and LEDs promise a lot more powerful easier to use and less expensive scopes in the future.

Best wishes

Gordon Couger

Moderator Yahoo microscope group

Answer 3

you don't need one...