अमूर्त

Green, eco-friendly bio-analytical techniques for pharmaceutical analysis

Shaaban H

Analytical chemistry plays an important role in pharmaceutical research. It is involved in different stages of drug manufacturing such as analysis of active ingredients, separation of enantiomers or impurities in bulk drugs and pharmaceutical formulations [1]. Bio analytical methods play an important role in the quantitative evaluation of drugs and their metabolites in physiological matrices such as blood, plasma, serum, or urine. Greening the analytical methods is gaining high interest among researchers. Because of the monetary and ecological impact of using large amounts of organic solvents and waste disposal, the analytical community are directed to implement the principles of green analytical chemistry (GAC) in analytical laboratories and to substitute polluting analytical methodologies with green ones [2]. However, various techniques can be used for the bio analysis of pharmaceuticals, liquid chromatography is still the most popular technique used in commercial and research laboratories [3]. Chromatographic techniques have the potential to be greener at all steps of the analysis, from sample collection to separation. Different approaches could be used for making liquid chromatographic methods more eco-friendly such as using high speed liquid chromatography, superheated water chromatography, enhanced fluidity liquid chromatography, micellar liquid chromatography, miniaturized instruments, direct liquid chromatography and replacing toxic reagents with green alternatives [4].