The increasing use of fluorinated drugs in pharmaceuticals necessitates elaboration of accurate measuring procedure for the monitoring of fluorine content and its chemical form, particularly in human tissues. Fluorine is often incorporated into drug molecules to improve their metabolic stability and efficacy, but its detection in complex biological matrices remains problematic due to the limitations of conventional analytical techniques.

Commonly explored methods, as mass spectrometry or emission spectrometry, although widely used for elemental analysis, are unsuitable for detecting fluorine. Its high ionization potential for the only one stable isotope, and weak atomic emission lines make it difficult to perform the quantification. As a result, alternative methods have been developed to address these analytical limitations.

One of the significant advancements in fluorine detection is the use of high-resolution molecular absorption spectrometry with a graphite furnace as a reactor for the determination of fluorine in biological samples. This technique involves detecting the molecular absorption of gallium fluoride (GaF), which is formed in the furnace under specific conditions. This approach has enabled the determination of trace amounts of fluorine in biological matrices, overcoming the limitations posed by other techniques.

On the other hand, the need to understand the metabolism of fluorine in the body necessitated the development of molecular techniques that allow both the determination of the presence of small drug molecules and the determination of protein profiles using proteomic methods.

Recent advancements in these detection methods have improved the accuracy and reliability of fluorine analysis in pharmaceuticals and biological samples. These techniques are essential for understanding the pharmacokinetics and potential side effects of fluorinated drugs, as well as for ensuring drug safety and efficacy in long-term therapeutic use.

References

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[4] Stacewicz et al., Spectrochimica Acta Part B, 2010, 65, 306.