Drilling into "Quality by Design" Approach for Analytical Methods

The need for consistency in analytical method development reinforces the dependence of pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing on robust analytical data. The Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD), akin to the product Quality by Design (QbD) endows a high degree of confidence to the method quality developed. AQbD involves the definition of the analytical target profile as starting point, followed by the identification of critical method variables and critical analytical attributes, supported on risk assessment and design of experiment tools for the establishment of a method operable design region and control strategy of the method. This systematic approach moves away from reactive troubleshooting to proactive failure reduction. The objective of this review is to highlight the elements of the AQbD framework and provide an overview of their implementation status in various analytical methods used in the pharmaceutical field. These methodologies include but are not limited to, high-performance liquid chromatography, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, capillary electrophoresis, supercritical fluid chromatography, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Finally, a critical appraisal is provided to highlight how regulators have encouraged AQbD principles application to boost the prevention of method failures and a better understanding of the method operable design region (MODR) and control strategy, ultimately resulting in cost-effectiveness and regulatory flexibility.

Biennial review of planar chromatography: 2011–2013

The most important advances in planar chromatography published between November 1, 2011 and November 1, 2013 are reviewed in this paper. Included are an introduction to the current status of the field; student experiments, books, and reviews; theory and fundamental studies; apparatus and techniques for sample preparation and TLC separations (sample application and plate development with the mobile phase); detection and identification of separated zones (chemical and biological detection, TLC/mass spectrometry, and TLC coupled with other spectrometric methods); techniques and instruments for quantitative analysis; preparative layer chromatography; and thin layer radiochromatography. Numerous applications to a great number of compound types and sample matrices are presented in all sections of the review.