Analytical Insights into Biologically Active Substances Using Mass Spectrometric Techniques.

Currently, research on biologically active substances with therapeutic properties is advancing along two main directions. Firstly, considerable efforts are being devoted to reducing side effects by incorporating these drugs into various matrices that play an essential role in controlled drug delivery and release. On the other hand, new compounds derived from existing active substances are being synthesized-compounds that are cheaper to obtain, display fewer adverse reactions, and simultaneously match the therapeutic efficacy of the drugs from which they originate. Moreover, one of the most effective techniques for analyzing these compounds continues to be HPLC-MS. Its high sensitivity for detecting extremely low concentrations (on the order of ng/mL), together with its precision, accuracy, reproducibility, and reasonable operating cost, makes HPLC--MS an indispensable tool in any research laboratory. This review aims to summarize recent advances in HPLC-MS methods for the detection and quantification of three classes of therapeutic substances (anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer drugs) and to provide perspectives on their applications in pharmacokinetic studies, quality control, and drug metabolism research.