Application of Chromatographic Techniques for the Determination of Active Pharmaceutical Compounds

Dear Colleagues,

Chromatography remains the cornerstone of modern analytical chemistry for drug analysis. Its unparalleled separation power, coupled with a vast array of detection methods, makes it indispensable in fields ranging from pharmaceutical development and clinical toxicology to forensic science and environmental monitoring. However, the increasing complexity of analytical challenges—such as the need for high-throughput screening, the analysis of trace-level contaminants, the characterization of complex biologics, and the emergence of new synthetic drugs—demands continuous innovation in chromatographic methodologies. Chromatographic techniques, particularly when coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS, GC-MS), have emerged as the undisputed gold standard in this field.

This Special Issue, "Application of Chromatographic Techniques for the Determination of Active Pharmaceutical Compounds", aims to showcase cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that highlight the evolution and application of chromatographic techniques in drug analysis. We seek to collate contributions that demonstrate significant advancements in separation science, including novel stationary phases, miniaturized systems, hyphenated techniques, and sophisticated data analysis workflows. The focus will be on applications that address real-world challenges, such as overcoming matrix effects, enhancing sensitivity and selectivity, and achieving green analytical chemistry principles.

We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and short communications that address contemporary challenges and present novel solutions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following:

• Novel chromatographic method development for drug identification and quantification. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and its application in traditional Chinese medicine, untargeted metabolomics, and metabolite profiling.
• Development and application of monolithic columns, superficially porous particles (SPPs), hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), chiral stationary phases, and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for drug separation.
• Advanced applications of GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, LC-HRMS (high-resolution mass spectrometry), and comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography (GC×GC, LC×LC) for unambiguous identification and quantification of drugs and their metabolites.
• Innovations in ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), capillary LC, and nano-LC coupled with automated sample preparation for rapid and efficient drug screening in clinical and forensic settings.
• Application of chromatographic methods to determine pharmaceuticals of emerging concern, new psychoactive substances (NPSs), antibiotic residues, and biotherapeutics (peptides, oligonucleotides, and antibodies).
• Application of advanced software tools, multivariate data analysis, and artificial intelligence for processing complex chromatographic data to extract maximum information.

Dr. Juan Li
Dr. Xingchu Gong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Separations is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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