Current Analytical Chemistry

In this special issue of “Current Analytical Chemistry” journal, named “Current Analytical Techniques and Applications in Pharmaceutical Analysis”, recent developments on drug analysis, some analytical techniques for pharmaceutical analyses such as Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatographic Techniques, Box-Behnken Optimized Methodology, electrochemical techniques etc., are discussed. This special issue includes two volumes, will combine not only different analyzing methods, to support the prosperity of analytical chemistry, but also development of new researches on pharmaceutical analyses to support the importance of pharmaceutical studies. Several important scientists contributed to share their ideas in this thematic issue. We would like to thank them one by one for their valuable contributions. In this thematic issue Volume I, there exist 7 review papers and 3 research papers. Nowadays, nanostructured materials have a great variety of applications. Some of them are used in electrochemistry to modify electrodes. Subsequently, in this issue, the first review, by P. Krzyczmonik and S. Skrzypek, addresses the “Composites of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) with nanostructures as electrochemical sensors for application in bioelectroanalysis” [1]. “Recent progress in the analysis of captopril using electrochemical Methods” are discussed by Mahesar et al. [2]. In their review, some important applications of electrochemical modes used for the analysis of captopril, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in antihypertensive drug has been discussed. This review highlights the role of the analytical instrumentation, particularly electrochemical methods in assessing captopril using various working electrodes. In another review paper, Fatma Ağın shared researches about “Electroanalytical methods for determination of calcium channel blockers” [3]. This review mainly includes recent determination studies of calcium channel blockers by electroanalytical methods from pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological samples, as calcium channel blockers are widely used in treatment of cardiovascular heart diseases in recent years. Furthermore, “Electrochemical sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers for pharmaceuticals analysis” topic is well discussed by the authors Radi et al. [4]. This review discussed the development of chemical sensing of drugs in pharmaceutical formulations and biological matrices using Molecular-Imprinting Polymer (MIP) as a recognition element combined with different electrochemical signal transduction. The MIP electrochemical sensors based on nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, as well as other electrode modifiers incorporated into the MIPs to enhance the sensors performance, have been reviewed. In another review contribution, entitled as “Voltammetric analysis of atypical antipsychotic drugs with solid electrodes” has found place by Dilek Kul [5]. This review presents voltammetric methods used for the determination of some electrochemically active atypical antipsychotic drugs, which are amisulpride, aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine fumarate, risperidone, sertindole, and ziprasidone, in pure solutions, pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological samples using various unmodified and modified solid electrodes. Another interesting review paper suggested by Srivastava et al., entitled as “Voltammetric techniques for the analysis of drugs using nanomaterials based chemically modified electrodes” [6]. Their paper focuses solely on application of electroanalytical techniques for individual and simultaneous analysis of drugs as well as in pharmaceutical formulations of dosage forms and biological media such as blood serum, urine, etc. for various classes of drugs such as analgesics, anti-helmentics, anti-tuberculosis, cardiovascular, antipsychotics, anti-allergic, antibiotics and gastro-intestinal. Besides, Kurbanoglu et al., contributed to this thematic issue with a motivating review paper entitled as “Recent advances on drug analyses using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatographic (UPLC) techniques and their application to the biological samples” [7]. The recent selected studies related to the UPLC method and its method validation were summarized, and the results of these studies with certain parameters obtained from literature were presented. Guzmán et al., contributed to our thematic issue with a research paper entitled as “A Box-Behnken Optimized Methodology for the Quantification of Diclofenac using a Carbon Paste-Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Electrode” [8]. This paper presents the development of an optimized voltammetric methodology for the quantification of diclofenac, which offers some advantages over other electrochemical and accepted methods. In another contribution, “Electrochemical detection of ct-dsDNA on nanomaterial-modified carbon based electrodes” is reported by Bozal-Palabiyik et al. [9]. This paper reports preparation, characterization of two different nanomaterials and their electrochemical application on double stranded calf-thymus DNA signals. Here, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes were functionalized with amine groups (MWCNTs-NH2) by employing the dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment. Both dsDNA modified electrodes were employed to explore the interaction between the dsDNA and the anticancer drug etoposide in aqueous solution through voltammetric techniques. In the last contribution, again a research paper was appeared by Secci et al., entitled as “Investigation on the stability of new biologically active thiosemicarbazone-derived compounds by a validated HPLC-PDA method” [10]. This paper reports the development and validation of an HPLC-PDA method for the simultaneous determination and chemical-physical stability evaluation after forced decomposition studies of thiosemicarbazone-derived compounds endowed with interesting pharmacological activities. We tried to combine different kinds of analyzing methods, discussed by different authors, to maintenance the riches of analytical chemistry. Therefore, we believe that this thematic issue will be very useful for the readers that wanted to have broad knowledge. We believe that you, as the valuable readers of Current Analytical Chemistry journal, will find out new information, topic of interest, new ideas from this thematic issue and we hope that this thematic issue will encourage researches to achieve analysis of pharmaceutical active compounds using different kinds of methods. We would like to thank all of the authors one more time for their excellent contributions, the Editors of “CURRENT ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY” for this kind invitation to act as guest editors for this thematic issue and the valuable assistance by Editorial Manager, Syed Faizan Akhtar in the processing and finalization of this special theme issue.

Analytical scientists due to unique properties of nanomaterials increased fabrications of nanostructure analytical sensors in the recent years. Nano-materials with high surface area and good stability are good choice for improving sensitivity analytical sensor for food, biological and pharmaceutical compounds analyses. Nano-material such as carbon nanotubes, metal oxide nanoparticles, graphene, polymer nanostructures and etc. suggested for application in analytical techniques such as voltammetry, spectroscopy, and chromatography. The published papers confirmed high quality of nanomaterials for improving trace level analysis of important food, pharmaceutical and environmental analysis. Therefore, recent modified methods were used nanomaterials as important part in fabrication of novel analytical sensors. The scope of this issue focuses on the strategies for determination of food, biological, pharmaceutical and environmental compounds using modified nanostructure sensors. This special issue included 7 reviews and 3 research article about application of nanomaterials in fabrication of analytical sensors. In paper 1, Faridbod et al., described a review paper about the graphene quantum dots in fabrication of electrochemical sensors/ biosensors. They discuss about the ways synthesis of graphene quantum dots and fabricated sensors or biosensors modified with graphene quantum dots. In paper 2, the electrochemical sensors modified with various nanomaterials discussed for determination of sulfonamides. In this paper, history of developing voltammetric sensors based on nanomaterials for the detection of sulfonamides including sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfacetamide, sulfadimethoxine, sulfathiazole, sulfamethiazole and sulfamerazine is reviewed. In paper 3, new emerging one-dimensional nanostructure materials for gas sensing application described by Bharti et al. This review focused for application of nanomaterials in fabrication of gas sensors. In paper 4, the ability of metal-based nanoparticles as conductive mediators in electrochemical sensors was investigated. The metal-based nanoparticles such as Au nanoparticle, Pt nanoparticle, Fe3O4 nanoparticle and etc. is reviewed by Karimi- Maleh et al. In paper 5, application of advanced electrochemical methods with nanomaterial-based electrodes as powerful tools for trace analysis of drugs and toxic compounds is reviewed. In paper 6, Pourbasheer et al discussed recent advanced in biosensors based nanostructure for pharmaceutical analysis (~ 73 papers). In paper 7, development of novel nanocomposites based on graphene/graphene oxide and electrochemical sensor applications. In the paper 8, simultaneous determination of epinephrine and tyrosine using a glassy carbon electrode amplified with ZnOPt/ CNTs nanocomposite described by Samadzadeh et al. In paper 9, we describe application of CdO decorated single wall carbon nanotubes as a conductive nanomaterial for modification of carbon paste electrode. The nanostructure sensor showed high sensitivity for determination of tertbutylhydroxyanisole as a food antioxidant. In paper 10, the role of NiO nanoparticle decorated single wall carbon nanotubes discussed for fabrication of new electrochemical sensor for determination of mycophenolate mofetil by Hosseini et al. I hope that in the special issue of Current Analytical Chemistry that collected in different fields relative to the application of nanomaterial for fabrication of analytical sensors useful for readers.

Plasticizers are organic compounds added to polymers to facilitate processing and increase flexibility and toughness of the final product by internal modification of the polymer molecule. Many plasticizers are considered as endocrine disruptors and show activity on the reproductive system or act as carcinogens. They can be released into the environment through leaching from final products and during manufacturing processes. The most commonly used plasticizers are phthalates, which comprise approximately 90% of plasticizer production in the world. Since phthalates are not chemically bound to the materials they are used in, they can be released from the products that contain them, for instance into water and air. There is public concern about phthalates because of their widespread use and occurrence in the environment as well as their potential effects on human health. Other organic contaminants highly used as plasticizers are alkylphenols, namely octylphenol and nonylphenol, bisphenol A or benzophenone. The analysis of all these compounds relies on the use of methods allowing their unequivocal identification in complex environmental matrices. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry or high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry are the most commonly used techniques for the analysis of these compounds. Furthermore, metabolomics, the comprehensive analysis of metabolites in a biological system, which provides detailed information about the biochemical /physiological status of a biological system and the changes caused by chemicals, can be used to assess the toxicity of food plasticizers.

Aim of this thematic issue on Biopolymers and Biocomposites: Chemistry and Technology in journal Current Analytical Chemistry to disseminate critical review and research findings in the area of biopolymers and biocomposites focusing on the chemistry and technology aspects of the materials. This special issue consists of research and review articles in the areas of chemistry and technology of biopolymers and biocomposites contributed by experts from worldwide. In this special issue we covered vast topics such as A review on phenolic resin, Thermo-mechanical properties of flax fibre reinforced composites, Next generation biomimetic bone tissue engineering from PLA/CaCO3 composites, Nanocrystalline cellulose as reinforcement for polymeric matrix nanocomposites and its potential applications: A Review, Seaweeds as renewable sources for biopolymers and its composites: A review, Recent Advances in Silver Nanoparticle Containing Biopolymer Nanocomposites for Infectious Disease Control – A Mini Review, On the Effects of Geometrical Shapes in Failure Modes in Natural – Conventional Fiber Reinforced Composite Tube (A review), New Generation Antibacterial Nanofibrous Membrane for Potential Water Filtration, Review of kenaf reinforced hybrid biocomposites: Potential in defence applications, and Starch Cellulosic Bio-composites: A Sustainable and Multifunctional Material for Green Technology from leading experts from Malaysia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, UK, UAE, Denmark, Australia, Libya, and Qatar. We are highly thankful to all authors who contributed in to this special issue and make made our thoughtful idea possible in to bring in reality. Besides, that we are also thankful to Bentham Science Publishers and their supporting team, especially Mr. Syed Faizan Akhtar, for helping assisting us during preparation till finalization of our this thematic special issue.