Current Pharmaceutical Analysis

Pharmaceutical analysis plays a significant role in various fields, including drug development and marketing. It allows the investigation of physical and chemical stability of the drug, design of dosage forms, detection, and identification of impurities. Pharmaceutical analysis can include several processes, such as identification, detection, and purification. Pharmaceutical analysis is used mainly for the separation of compounds, metabolites, and biomolecules in their matrix. Impurity analysis also has high importance that increases the pharmaceutical risk. Analytical methods such as liquid chromatography, solid-phase extraction, spectrophotometry, potentiometry, electrochemistry, and fluorimetry are mostly used in pharmaceutical assays. However, there are two main analytical methods; qualitative and quantitative analysis. The major aims of pharmaceutical analysis are quality control, method development, and method validation. Hyphenated techniques have been popular for two decades. For example, separation techniques may combine with mass spectrometry. It allows analysis of compounds from biological samples with high precision and accuracy. Pharmaceutical dosage forms, systems of drug delivery, bioavailability-bioequivalence, solubility, and kinetic parameters are vital areas. To form a new dosage formula, these parameters must be studied. Drug therapy strategy in all diseases can be utilized with effective combinations such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes. Pharmaceutical analysis is an important parameter for drug development and diagnosis. The main aim of this analysis is to serve humanity, and prevent potential illnesses and diseases. Impurities or other interferences, which may be dangerous for human health, can be easily detected. This thematic issue consists of eight review papers and one research paper; several important scientists have contributed to share their ideas. Subsequently, this issue by Sezginturk et al. [1] addresses “A label-free electrochemical immunosensor for highly sensitive detection of TNF α based on star polymer-modified disposable ITO electrode.” In this study, star-shaped poly (glycidyl methacrylate) polymer (Str(PGMA)4) coated disposable indium tin oxide sheet was developed for the detection of cancer biomarker TNF α. The proposed immunosensor exhibited a linear range between 0.02 and 4 pg/mL TNF α, and the detection limit was obtained as 6 fg/mL. High recovery values were observed, along with stable shelf-life. Fanali et al. [2] shared their ideas and published studies on “Analysis of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs using microfluidic techniques: a review.” In this review, the separation and analysis of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were discussed by capillary electrophoresis and liquid chromatography as miniaturized techniques. Furthermore, “Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (HILIC): Latest Applications in the Pharmaceutical Researches” [3] topic is well discussed by Uslu et al. In this review, an overview of applications of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) in the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds, small molecules, metabolites, drugs of abuse, carbohydrates, toxins, oligosaccharides, peptides, amino acids, and proteins is shared. In the review entitled “Albumin-Based Nanoparticles as Promising Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Treatment,” [4] the topic is well discussed by Esim and Hascicek. This review paper aims to investigate the different types of albumin, special nanotechnological techniques for the production of albumin nanoparticles such as desolvation, emulsification, thermal gelation, nano-spray drying, and self-formation, as well as the characterization of albumin nanoparticles such as particle size, surface charge, morphological properties, drug content, and release profile. There is another interesting study entitled “An Overview of Excipients Classification and Their Use in Pharmaceuticals” by Ozkan et al. [5] This review is identified as the use of the excipients in drug delivery systems. Excipient toxicity is an issue discussed in the light of current studies. Besides, Kilicarslan and Buke [6] contributed to this thematic issue with a fascinating review paper entitled “An Overview: The Evaluation of Formation Mechanisms, Preparation Techniques and Chemical and Analytical Characterization Methods of the In Situ Forming Implants.” In this review, published studies to date regarding in situ forming implant systems were compiled, and their formation mechanisms, materials and methods used, routes of administration, chemical and analytical characterizations, quality-control tests, and in vitro dissolution tests were evaluated. Agin and Dogan [7] contributed with a review paper entitled “Voltammetric Methods Used in the Determination of Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors.” The recent advances on the pharmacological properties and recent determination studies by voltammetric methods from pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological samples of eight NRTIs group antiretroviral drugs are reported in this review. These are used in the clinic and show electroactive properties. In another contribution, “Nano-sized Metal and Metal Oxide Modified Electrodes for Pharmaceuticals Analysis” is discussed by Dogan-Topal et al. [8]. In this review, the literature survey was applied successfully with metal, and metal oxide modified substrates for sensitive detection of pharmaceuticals. The last one, “Challenges, Progress and Promises of Impurities Annotation for LCMS-IT-TOF,” is well presented by Nafiz Oncu Can and coworkers [9]. In this review, liquid flight (LCMS-IT-TOF) has been considered taking all aspects to account for its use in qualitative impurity profiling. A retrospective view on previous studies was presented analytically. We tried to combine the different kinds of analytical methods to maintain the riches of analytical chemistry. Therefore, this thematic issue is called “Pharmaceutical Analysis: Current Status and Future Perspectives”. It will be useful for readers seeking broad knowledge. We hope that the readers will immensely enjoy reading these excellent chapters from eminent scientists in their fields. We believe that numerous readers of the Current Pharmaceutical Analysis journal will present new ideas, knowledge, and topics of interest from this thematic issue. We hope that this issue will be helpful for researchers to perform pharmaceutical analysis by various methods. I would like to thank all the authors for their excellent contributions, and Prof. Dr. Anastasios Economou the Editor-in- Chief of “Current Pharmaceutical Analysis,” for his kind invitation as a guest editor for this thematic issue. We would like to thank all the authors that contributed to this special issue for their excellent contributions. In addition, we would like to thank the Bentham staff for their efforts and efficient interactions with the authors and guest editors in the publication process.