An efficient microfluidic device based on electromembrane extraction for the simultaneous extraction of acidic and basic drugs.

The simultaneous extraction of acidic and basic compounds is considered a great challenge. In this work, an efficient and fast microfluidic device is described for the simultaneous determination of acidic and basic drugs by two electromembrane extraction, offering extraction efficiencies over 98% for all analytes in human urine samples and solving the difficulties encountered to date. The sample is submitted into the device and the collected acceptor phase is directly analyzed by diode array detector and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Robust freeze-drying process re-design of a legacy product based on risk analysis and design of experiments.

In this study, a QbD freeze-drying process re-design applied to a lyophilized injectable drug product is presented. The main objective was to assess the freeze-drying process robustness using risk analysis and a proper experimental design. First, the product's thermal fingerprint was characterized by thermal analysis and freeze-drying microscopy.

Impedance model for voltage optimization of parabens extraction in an electromembrane millifluidic device.

In sample pre-treatment, millifluidic electromembrane platforms have been developed to extract and pre-concentrate target molecules with good clean-up that minimize matrix effects. Optimal operation conditions are normally determined experimentally, repeating the extractions at different conditions and determining the efficiencies by an analytical technique. To shorten and simplify the optimization protocol, millifluidic platforms have been electrically characterized by impedance spectroscopy.

Finding a reliable limit of detection in the NIR determination of residual moisture in a freeze-dried drug product.

The validation of an analytical method in the pharmaceutical industry follows strictly regulated guidelines. The introduction of multivariable calibration methods requires a revision of these recommendations, since some of them are contradictory regarding the limit of detection (LOD). This work compares the LOD values obtained using pseudounivariate and multivariate procedures in the PLS-NIR determination of residual moisture content (RMC) in a freeze-dried drug.

Enzymatic synthesis of a thiolated chitosan-based wound dressing crosslinked with chicoric acid.

This work describes the enzymatic synthesis of multifunctional hydrogels for chronic wound treatment using thiolated chitosan and the natural polyphenol chicoric acid. Gelation was achieved by laccase-catalyzed oxidation of chicoric acid, a natural compound used for the first time as a homobifunctional crosslinker, reacting subsequently with nucleophilic thiol and amino groups from the chitosan derivative. This approach allowed for twice as fast gelation at a three-fold reduced crosslinking reagent concentration, compared to reported enzymatic synthesis of hydrogels using gallic acid as a phenolic provider.