Foreword Special Focu S: Green bioanaly S i S

The conclusions of the recent conference on climate held in Durban, South Africa, were not really reassuring with regards to the current state of our planet. In fact several voices have arisen to ask a number of urgent measures in order to preserve our planet by reducing the use of hazardous chemicals and polluting processes in various fields of activity. In this respect, several polluting industries have been designated. Moreover, it has been suggested to claim a financial compensation to the more polluting industries. In the field of chemistry, and particularly the one of bio ana l­ ysis, there has been a concern about the use of hazardous chemicals and, thus, new concepts have been developed in order to reduce waste and replace the most polluting solvents. In this respect, the notion of green chemistry has emerged in all steps of bioana lysis, from the sample withdrawal, storage and ana lysis. Thus, the continuous effort in green bioanalytical methods is reflected by several scientific contributions from a variety of research groups, and it is appropriate that Bioana lysis dedicates a special focus issue to green bioanalytical methods. In the present issue we include a wide selection of research, review and editorial papers focusing on green bioanalytical methods and laboratory practices. The editorial papers discuss new green bioanalytical methods in the drug ­ discovery and ­ development field. They put emphasis on sample preparation, with the development of solid ­ phase microextraction and supercritical fluid chromatography, reduction of sample collection using techniques, such as dried blood spot sampling, and replacement of conventional LC mobile phase, such as acetonitrile by ethanol, which is less polluting. The research papers deal with real examples of green bioanalytical implementation in the field of sample collection, extraction or preparation and ana lysis (with or without chromatography) as well as reduction of sample size. Overall, it is clear from the articles in this