Progress and future directions in determining drugs using spectroelectrochemical methods

Abstract

The use of drugs is essential for the continuity of human health and the prevention of diseases for living creatures. A key factor in effective drug use is taking it at the correct dosage and timing. Otherwise, some adverse or side effects of these drugs may occur. For this reason, it is crucial to determine the drugs used. In some cases, drug analysis is also essential to understand the use of harmful active substances, such as in the class of prohibited ones. The simple definition of a drug (medication) is a chemical substance that produces a biological effect when adapted to an organism. There are many techniques to determine the drug amount, including spectrometric, chromatographic, electrochemical, colorimetric, or immunological. These analytical techniques have been successfully used to quantify drugs. To improve the effectiveness of the detection protocols, combined systems such as spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) provide significant advantages. This well-known technique unites the principles of spectroscopy and electrochemistry by creating a synergy to provide information on redox properties, mechanisms, and molecular structures. This review highlights the transformative potential of SEC in determining drug molecules, offering a detailed exploration of its principles, methodologies, and unique advantages. The main emphasis, however, is on the use of SEC in pharmaceutical analysis, where its accuracy and adaptability have driven significant progress. Recent studies are presented in detail, demonstrating SEC's effectiveness in detecting, quantifying, and characterizing drug molecules with high sensitivity and specificity.