Scientists from the Russian Technological University (MIREA) have developed a new method for measuring the active ingredient in a topical psoriasis gel, a advancement the developers say will make the medication safer and more effective.
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease often treated with photochemotherapy. This treatment uses a gel containing the active substance 8-methoxypsoralen, which is applied to the skin and then activated by ultraviolet light. Precise control of the substance’s concentration in the gel is critical. The research team has proposed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for this quality control*, a method that can accurately determine the concentration of the active ingredient in just 10 minutes.
“We are not claiming that existing control methods are poor, but rather that they have a number of drawbacks,” explained one of the method’s developers, Anastasia Prezhedromirskaya. “The use of saline buffers in the mobile phase can lead to increased equipment pressure. Another disadvantage is the use of methanol, a highly dangerous poison that is subject to strict control and accounting.”
The researchers believe implementing this new methodology will streamline and accelerate the release of finished products in pharmaceutical manufacturing while ensuring consistent quality and efficacy for every patient. “In pharmaceuticals, there are no small details. Any deviation in the composition can negate the entire therapeutic effect or, worse, cause harm. Our development is a ready-made tool that enhances production reliability,” emphasized another researcher, Elizaveta Shnyak.
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical technique that separates, identifies, and quantifies components in a complex mixture by pumping a liquid sample through a column packed with a stationary phase. The separation is based on the differential interactions of the sample’s components with the stationary phase, causing some to move slower than others. A detector at the end of the column measures these separated components, generating a chromatogram that represents their concentration over time.