Today’s pharmaceutical industry is under constant pressure to innovate, developing faster, more effective tools to discover, formulate, deliver, and monitor new drugs. In this environment, the ability to develop rapid and reliable chromatographic methods is critical for modern analytical laboratories.
In this blog, we explore the history of UPLC (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography) and explain its key applications with a spotlight on the Waters ACQUITY UPLC system, engineered to address these challenges with speed, precision, and proven performance.
Why UPLC Is a Game-Changer?
Liquid Chromatography (LC) has been a cornerstone of analytical chemistry for decades, with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) dominating since the 1970s. While HPLC transformed laboratory analysis, scientists continued to seek greater speed, resolution, and sensitivity.
The breakthrough in chromatography came in the early 2000s with Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), pioneered commercially by Waters Corporation through the launch of the ACQUITY UPLC® System in 2004. This technology leveraged sub-2 μm particle columns and systems engineered for pressures up to approximately 15,000 psi, overcoming long-standing HPLC bottlenecks by delivering dramatically faster analyses, sharper separations, and lower solvent consumption.
Drug development and preclinical research
UPLC supports precise quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), rapid impurity profiling, and comprehensive stability studies.
For example, in metformin hydrochloride tablet analysis, UPLC reduced run times from 12 minutes with HPLC to under 4 minutes without sacrificing accuracy. In stability testing for atorvastatin, it resolved multiple degradation products in less than 5 minutes, enabling formulation scientists to optimize drug stability more efficiently. UPLC is also valuable in excipient compatibility studies, providing early insights into formulation robustness.
Quality control (QC) and batch release
Pharmaceutical QC laboratories have used UPLC to increase sample throughput in paracetamol batch testing by more than 50%, ensuring faster batch release without compromising data integrity or GMP compliance.
In dissolution testing of ibuprofen tablets, run times were reduced from 10 to 3 minutes, significantly decreasing solvent consumption and analyst time. These improvements translate directly into higher operational efficiency and cost savings while maintaining pharmacopeial compliance.
Bioanalytical studies
Bioanalysis also benefit from UPLC, particularly when coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). This combination allows for highly sensitive quantification of drugs and metabolites in biological matrices, supporting pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies.
In oncology, UPLC–MS/MS has been used to monitor imatinib plasma levels at concentrations below 1 ng/mL, enabling precise dose adjustments for individual patients. Generic drug manufacturers also rely on UPLC–MS/MS for bioequivalence testing, ensuring their products match the therapeutic performance of innovator brands.
Leading the Way in UPLC: Discover the Power of Waters ACQUITY UPLC
Waters Acquity UPLC System with ACQUITY UPLC TUV Detector, PDA Detector,FLR Detector
This integrated configuration combines triple-mode detection in a single UPLC platform, offering UV absorbance (TUV), photodiode array spectral scanning (PDA), and sensitive fluorescence detection (FLR) for maximum analytical versatility. It enables simultaneous or sequential detection methods, delivering a more complete data set in fewer runs.
Waters Acquity H-Class Plus UPLC System
The H‑Class PLUS is a robust, versatile system that supports both traditional HPLC and UPLC methods. It’s equipped with binary or quaternary solvent management, enabling flexibility across a broad range of applications. It can balance method versatility with UPLC performance, offers enhanced method development with tools like Auto-Blend Plus, and is designed for seamless transition from HPLC to UPLC workflows.
Waters Acquity Arc LC-MS System with QDA and PDA
This Waters Acquity Arc HPLC system is a complete, high-performance solution designed for both routine and advanced analytical applications. It combines reliable solvent delivery, flexible sample handling, and dual detection capabilities to provide high sensitivity, reproducibility, and confidence in your results.
Waters BioAccord RDA LC-MS with I-Class Plus UPLC
When ultra‑precision matters, the I‑Class PLUS stands out. Designed for ultra‑low dispersion and minimal delay volumes, this binary UPLC system delivers exceptionally sharp peaks and heightened sensitivity. This model is ideal for complex or trace-level analyses.
SpectraLab offers a wide range of professionally refurbished Waters ACQUITY UPLC® systems and other leading brands’ UPLC systems to support your pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research. Explore our available configurations and find the right solution for your lab!
