Green high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) approaches for pharmaceutical and drug analysis

Conventional liquid chromatography, though widely used in drug discovery, quality control, and stability studies, raises concerns regarding solvent consumption, analyst safety, and environmental impact. Recently, green analytical chemistry has guided the adoption of eco-friendly techniques, among which high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) stands out for its versatility, low solvent requirements, parallel analysis capabilities, and robustness. This review highlights recent advancements in green HPTLC methodologies, emphasizing the use of sustainable solvents, validation metrics, and greenness tools. Special focus is given to applications across single and multi-analytes determination, illustrating the technique's growing relevance in pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and bioequivalence studies. Comparative analysis of greenness scores demonstrate the potential of green HPTLC to achieve high analytical performance while minimizing environmental burden. Future perspectives include enhanced miniaturization, automation, integration with hyphenated techniques, and regulatory harmonization. This review underscores green HPTLC as a pivotal approach for sustainable pharmaceutical analysis, bridging analytical efficiency with environmental stewardship.