<h4>2nd Annual International NETPHARM Conference: From Cutting-Edge Equipment to Excellent Results at the Midpoint of the Project</h4>On 15–16 April 2026, the second annual international conference of the project “New Technologies for Translational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences” (NETPHARM) took place in Kudowa-Zdrój, Poland. The meeting, attended by more than 100 researchers, confirmed that after two years of implementation the project is successfully fulfilling its ambitious goals in linking basic research with clinical practice.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_Prof_Petr_Pavek_8db8f7e5f2.jpg" alt="Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Prof. Petr Pávek" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_Prof_Petr_Pavek_8db8f7e5f2.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="800"><h4>Scientific excellence and international outreach</h4>The scientific programme of the conference focused on progress in five key research objectives (RO1–RO5), with the leaders of individual sections presenting achieved milestones, scientific results, and team synergies over the past year. Prof. Kateřina Vávrová presented on pharmaceutical and analytical chemistry (RO1), while progress in pharmacology and toxicology (RO2) was summarized by Prof. František Štaud. Prof. Martin Hrubý presented results in the field of novel drug delivery systems and formulations (RO3), and Assoc. Prof. Daniela Fialová (RO4) introduced research in geriatric clinical pharmacy focused on systematic literature reviews, algorithms for individualized pharmacotherapy, and pilot deprescribing interventions. Evaluation of activities in advanced in vitro and in silico approaches in drug development (RO5) was presented by Assoc. Prof. Tomáš Smutný. Among the keynote speakers were, for example, Prof. Martin Hrubý with a lecture on stimuli-responsive polymers for biomedical applications, and Prof. František Švec, who addressed the use of monoliths in supercritical fluid chromatography for the separation of large biologically active molecules.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_2_vyrocni_mezinarodni_konference_NETPHARM_prof_Frantisek_Svec_0b7cb8a321.jpg" alt="Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Prof. František Švec" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_2_vyrocni_mezinarodni_konference_NETPHARM_prof_Frantisek_Svec_0b7cb8a321.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="800">A key contribution was the participation of members of the International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), led by Prof. Maria da Conceição from the University of Porto. As part of invited lectures, these distinguished experts presented the latest global trends: Prof. Kevin A. Schug (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/301">University of Texas at Arlington</a>) focused on the characterization of advanced drug formulations, Prof. Igor Lacík (Slovak Academy of Sciences) discussed the use of polymers in diabetes treatment, Prof. Søren Bak (University of Copenhagen) presented plant natural products as next-generation biopesticides, and Prof. Michael Lämmerhofer (University of Tübingen) analyzed the importance of metabolomics and lipidomics in biomedical research.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_prof_Kevin_A_Schug_b31db2c431.jpg" alt="Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Prof. Kevin A. Schug" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_prof_Kevin_A_Schug_b31db2c431.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="800"><h4>Key results: 110 publications and investment in infrastructure</h4>The NETPHARM project, funded by the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme (OP JAK), achieved significant milestones by early 2026:<ul><li>Interdisciplinary expert team: More than 200 researchers, both experienced and early-career scientists, have been involved in research activities within the project.</li><li>Publications: 110 scientific publications have been produced, the majority of which fall into the Q1 category.</li><li>Dissemination and outreach: The number of contributions at international conferences (195) already exceeds the original plan by 38%.</li><li>Infrastructure: 16 state-of-the-art instruments have been acquired for research laboratories, with a total value of CZK 37.5 million, including an X-ray diffractometer, confocal microscopy, and a computational server.</li><li>Audit: An on-site inspection by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports was successfully completed, confirming the efficient use of grant funds.</li></ul><h4>Strategic recommendations for the future</h4>The conference was followed on 17 April by the 3rd meeting of the ISAB, held in the historic premises of the Carolinum in Prague. The ISAB appreciated the dynamic collaboration among institutions such as Charles University (Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové), the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/11">University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague</a>, institutes of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/10">Czech Academy of Sciences</a> (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/62">IOCB Prague</a> and IMC), and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/12">Masaryk University</a>/<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/36">CEITEC</a>. For the remaining half of the project, experts recommended an even stronger focus on international mobility of project teams, strengthening synergies among individual teams, accelerating the patent application process, and focusing on the soft skills of junior researchers.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_3_zasedani_rady_ISAB_0121b9b78d.jpg" alt="Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: 3rd meeting of the ISAB" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_3_zasedani_rady_ISAB_0121b9b78d.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="900"><h4>Networking and support for talent</h4>In addition to the intensive scientific programme, there was also a social programme, including a tour of Kudowa-Zdrój and a joint dinner. An important part was the award for the best poster presentations by young scientists, highlighting the project’s emphasis on educating a new generation of pharmaceutical experts. Among the awardees were Ing. Anna Tvrdá, Mgr. Mária Bajnoková, and Mary Angelia Alfred, M.Sc.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_oceneni_nejlepsich_posterovych_prezentaci_37ba838bed.jpg" alt="Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Award for the best poster presentations" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Mgr_Martina_Kopecka_Jurcekova_oceneni_nejlepsich_posterovych_prezentaci_37ba838bed.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="800"><blockquote>“NETPHARM is at the midpoint of its journey and clearly demonstrates that building a nationwide platform of excellence makes sense. Our scientific outputs and modernized facilities form a strong foundation for innovations that will directly influence the quality of pharmaceutical care in the future,” said Prof. Petr Pávek, the project’s principal investigator, summarising the meeting.</blockquote>

2nd Annual International NETPHARM Conference

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) remains one of the most widely used analytical techniques for separating, identifying, and quantifying compounds in complex mixtures. Successful HPLC method development depends not only on selecting the correct column and optimizing the mobile phase composition, but also on choosing the appropriate detector. Even a perfectly optimized chromatographic separation provides little value if the detection system cannot properly capture and interpret the analytes of interest.In many ways, the detector acts as the “vision system” of the chromatograph. It converts separated compounds into measurable electronic signals, allowing analysts to identify components and determine their concentrations. The choice of detector therefore has a major impact on sensitivity, selectivity, robustness, and the overall quality of analytical data.This article provides an overview of the most common HPLC detection techniques, discusses their strengths and limitations, and outlines the most important criteria to consider when selecting a detector for a specific analytical task.<h3>HPLC Detection Technologies</h3>HPLC detectors are typically divided into two major categories:<ol><li>Specific detectors (solute-property detectors)</li><li>Bulk property detectors</li></ol>Specific detectors respond to a particular chemical or physical property of the analyte. Ideally, their signal is largely unaffected by changes in mobile phase composition. Common examples include UV/Vis detectors, fluorescence detectors, and mass spectrometers.Bulk property detectors, on the other hand, measure differences between the pure mobile phase and the mobile phase containing analytes. These detectors are considered more universal because they respond to properties shared by many compounds. Refractive index detectors are among the best-known examples, alongside conductivity and light-scattering detectors.Both detector categories have important advantages depending on the application, sample type, and analytical goals.<h3>Common Detector Types Used in HPLC</h3>A wide variety of detectors are available for HPLC systems, ranging from highly universal devices to extremely selective and sensitive technologies.Common detector options include:<ul><li>UV/Vis detectors</li><li>Diode array detectors (DAD/PDA)</li><li>Fluorescence detectors</li><li>Refractive index detectors (RID)</li><li>Conductivity detectors</li><li>Evaporative light scattering detectors (ELSD)</li><li>Charged aerosol detectors (CAD)</li><li>Mass spectrometry detectors (MS)</li></ul>Each technology offers a different balance of sensitivity, selectivity, robustness, operational complexity, and cost.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Detector_overview_with_characteristics_Graphic_by_KNAUER_84b0dd30b1.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Detector overview with characteristics. Graphic by KNAUER." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Detector_overview_with_characteristics_Graphic_by_KNAUER_84b0dd30b1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1293" height="596"><h3>Selecting the Right HPLC Detector</h3>There is no universally ideal detector for all HPLC applications. The best choice depends on several factors, including analyte chemistry, matrix complexity, required detection limits, and instrument compatibility.Careful detector selection is essential for obtaining reliable and meaningful analytical results.The following considerations can help guide the selection process.<h4>1. Chemical and Physical Properties of the Analytes</h4>The chemical nature of the compounds being analyzed is one of the most important selection criteria.Questions to consider include:<ul><li>Do the analytes contain chromophores?</li><li>Are the compounds naturally fluorescent?</li><li>What is their polarity?</li><li>What is their molecular weight?</li><li>Are they volatile or non-volatile?</li></ul>Compounds containing UV-active groups are often well suited for UV/Vis detection, while fluorescent molecules can benefit from the high sensitivity of fluorescence detectors. Non-UV-active compounds may require universal detection approaches such as CAD, ELSD, or mass spectrometry.<h4>2. Required Sensitivity</h4>Detector sensitivity determines the minimum concentration that can be reliably detected and quantified.Routine quality control analyses often rely on UV/Vis detectors because they provide sufficient sensitivity for many applications while remaining relatively simple and cost-effective. However, trace-level analysis or highly complex matrices may require more advanced technologies such as:<ul><li>Fluorescence detection</li><li>Charged aerosol detection</li><li>Mass spectrometry</li></ul>These techniques offer significantly lower detection limits and greater analytical specificity.<h4>3. Detector Linearity</h4>Linearity describes how well detector response correlates with analyte concentration across a defined range.A detector with strong linearity ensures accurate quantification and simplifies calibration procedures. Poor linearity can introduce quantification errors, especially when analyzing samples across broad concentration ranges.<h4>4. Dynamic Range</h4>Dynamic range refers to the concentration interval over which the detector can reliably measure analytes.Applications involving samples with highly variable concentrations require detectors capable of maintaining accurate response over a broad range. A wide dynamic range reduces the need for repeated dilutions or multiple analytical runs.<h4>5. Selectivity</h4>Selectivity defines the detector’s ability to distinguish target analytes from other matrix components.This factor becomes particularly important for complex samples containing many interfering substances. Highly selective detectors reduce the risk of overlapping signals and false positives.Mass spectrometry is often advantageous when dealing with unknown compounds or highly complicated sample matrices because it provides structural information in addition to quantitative data.<h4>6. Budget Considerations</h4>Detector cost is another practical factor that laboratories must evaluate.UV/Vis and refractive index detectors are generally among the more economical choices, making them attractive for routine analyses and standard applications.More sophisticated technologies such as fluorescence detection, CAD, or mass spectrometry typically require:<ul><li>Higher initial investment</li><li>Additional maintenance</li><li>More complex infrastructure</li><li>Greater operational expertise</li></ul>However, the overall value of the detector should always be considered in relation to analytical performance requirements and long-term application needs.<h4>7. Instrument and Mobile Phase Compatibility</h4>The selected detector must be compatible with the operational conditions of the HPLC system.Important parameters include:<ul><li>Flow rate range</li><li>Pressure limitations</li><li>Mobile phase composition</li><li>Solvent compatibility</li></ul>Some detectors are highly sensitive to mobile phase composition or gradient changes, while others tolerate a broader range of operating conditions.Ensuring proper compatibility helps prevent baseline instability, signal interference, and reduced detector performance.<h4>8. Destructive vs. Non-Destructive Detection</h4>Another important consideration is whether the analytical workflow involves only detection or also preparative purification.Non-destructive detectors allow collected fractions to remain intact after detection, which is highly beneficial for preparative chromatography and purification workflows.Destructive detectors, by contrast, consume or alter the sample during measurement and are therefore more suitable for analytical applications where sample recovery is not required.<h4>9. Reliability and Ease of Operation</h4>Practical usability is often just as important as analytical performance.Some detectors are designed for straightforward plug-and-play operation, while others require:<ul><li>Frequent calibration</li><li>Specialized maintenance</li><li>Dedicated gas supplies</li><li>Vacuum systems</li><li>Advanced operator expertise</li></ul>Laboratories should evaluate the available technical support, user experience, and maintenance capabilities before implementing more sophisticated detection technologies.Reliable operation and manageable maintenance requirements can significantly improve laboratory productivity and reduce downtime.Choosing the correct HPLC detector starts with understanding both the sample and the analytical objective. Rather than selecting a detector simply because it is available, laboratories should ensure that the technology aligns with the chemistry of the analytes, required performance characteristics, and workflow demands.In many cases, combining multiple detectors within a single HPLC system can provide even greater analytical insight by delivering complementary information from the same chromatographic separation.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Flow_scheme_for_detector_selection_Graphic_by_KNAUER_486004045f.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Flow scheme for detector selection. Graphic by KNAUER." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Flow_scheme_for_detector_selection_Graphic_by_KNAUER_486004045f.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1316" height="808">Interested in learning more? Future articles will explore individual HPLC detection techniques in greater detail, including their operating principles, application areas, and practical advantages for different analytical workflows.

A comprehensive guide for selecting the appropriate HPLC detector

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A comprehensive guide for selecting the appropriate HPLC detector

2nd Annual International NETPHARM Conference