A validated stability-indicating LC method for the separation of enantiomer and potential impurities of Linezolid using polar organic mode

Although a number of methods are available for evaluating Linezolid and its possible impurities, a common method for separation if its potential impurities, degradants and enantiomer in a single method with good efficiency remain unavailable. With the objective of developing an advanced method with shorter runtimes, a simple, precise, accurate stability-indicating LC method was developed for the determination of purity of Linezolid drug substance and drug products in bulk samples and pharmaceutical dosage forms in the presence of its impurities and degradation products. This method is capable of separating all the related substances of Linezolid along with the chiral impurity. This method can also be used for the estimation of assay of Linezolid in drug substance as well as in drug product. The method was developed using Chiralpak IA (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column. A mixture of acetonitrile, ethanol, n-butyl amine and trifluoro acetic acid in 96:4:0.10:0.16 (v/v/v/v) ratio was used as a mobile phase. The eluted compounds were monitored at 254 nm. Linezolid was subjected to the stress conditions of oxidative, acid, base, hydrolytic, thermal and photolytic degradation. The degradation products were well resolved from main peak and its impurities, proving the stability-indicating power of the method. The developed method was validated as per International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines with respect to specificity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, linearity, accuracy, robustness and system suitability.     

LC–UV/MS quality analytics of paediatric artemether formulations

A highly selective and stability-indicating HPLC-method, combined with appropriate sample preparation steps, is developed for β-artemether assay and profiling of related impurities, including possible degradants, in a complex powder for oral suspension. Following HPLC conditions allowed the required selectivity: a Prevail organic acid (OA) column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm), flow rate set at 1.5 mL/min combined with a linear gradient (where A=25 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5), and B=acetonitrile) from 30% to 75% B in a runtime of 60 min. Quantitative UV-detection was performed at 210 nm. Acetonitrile was applied as extraction solvent for sample preparation. Using acetonitrile–water mixtures as extraction solvent, a compartmental behaviour by a non-solving excipient-bound fraction and an artemether-solubilising free fraction of solvent was demonstrated, making a mobile phase based extraction not a good choice. Method validation showed that the developed HPLC-method is considered to be suitable for its intended regulatory stability-quality characterisation of β-artemether paediatric formulations. Furthermore, LC–MS on references as well as on stability samples was performed allowing identity confirmation of the β-artemether related impurities. MS-fragmentation scheme of β-artemether and its related substances is proposed, explaining the m/z values of the in-source fragments obtained.     

Selective separation,detection of zotepine and mass spectral characterization of degradants by LC–MS/MS/QTOF

A simple, precise, accurate stability-indicating gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP–HPLC) method was developed for the quantitative determination of zotepine (ZTP) in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms in the presence of its degradation products (DPs). The method was developed using Phenomenex C₁₈ column (250 mm×4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) with a mobile phase containing a gradient mixture of solvents, A (0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), pH=3.0) and B (acetonitrile). The eluted compounds were monitored at 254 nm; the run time was within 20.0 min, in which ZTP and its DPs were well separated, with a resolution of >1.5. The stress testing of ZTP was carried out under acidic, alkaline, neutral hydrolysis, oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions. ZTP was found to degrade significantly in acidic, photolytic, thermal and oxidative stress conditions and remain stable in basic and neutral conditions. The developed method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy, precision and robustness as per ICH guidelines. This method was also suitable for the assay determination of ZTP in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The DPs were characterized by LC–MS/MS and their fragmentation pathways were proposed.     

Development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method for analysis of tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride in eye drop formulations

A simple, precise, accurate, and stability-indicating method is developed and validated for analysis of tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride in eye drop formulations. Separation was achieved on a reversed-phase C₈ column (125 mm×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/phosphate buffer of pH 3.0 (20:80, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV detection at 240 nm. This method is validated according to United States Pharmacopeia requirements for new methods, which include accuracy, precision, selectivity, robustness, and linearity and range. This method shows enough selectivity, accuracy, precision, and linearity and range to satisfy Federal Drug Administration/International Conference on Harmonization regulatory requirements. The current method demonstrates good linearity over the range of 0.025–0.075 mg/mL of tetrahydrozoline with r² 0.999. The average recovery of the method is 100.8% with a relative standard deviation of 0.47%. The degree of reproducibility of the results obtained as a result of small deliberate variations in the method parameters and by changing analytical operators has proven that the method is robust and rugged.     

Stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method for the determination of Letrozole in pharmaceutical formulations

A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the determination of Letrozole in tablet dosage forms. Reversed-phase chromatography was performed on Shimadzu Model LC-Class-Vp with Lichrocart/Lichrosphere 100 C-18 (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size) column with methanol: tetra butyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate (80:20V/V) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min with UV detection at 240 nm. Linearity was observed in the concentration range of 0.5–150 μg/mL (R²=0.9998) with regression equation y=102582x+43185. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were found to be 0.043 and 0.012 μg/mL respectively. The forced degradation studies were performed by using HCl, NaOH, H₂O₂, thermal and UV radiation. Letrozole is more sensitive towards alkaline conditions and very much resistant towards acidic, oxidative and photolytic degradations. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The RSD for intra-day (0.78–0.97) and inter-day (0.86–0.96) precision were found to be lesser than 1%. The percentage recovery was in good agreement with the labeled amount in the pharmaceutical formulations and the method is simple, specific, precise and accurate for the determination of Letrozole in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Sensitive determination of 4-O-methylhonokiol in rabbit plasma by high performance liquid chromatography and application to its pharmacokinetic investigation

A novel high Performance liquid Chromatographie method was developed for the determination of 4-O-methylhonokiol in rabbit plasma and was applied to its pharmacokinetic investigation. Plasma samples were treated by one-fold volume of methanol and acetonitrile to remove the interference proteins. A reverse phase column of SHIM-PACK VP-ODS (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5.0 Mm) was used to separate 4-O-methylhonokiol in the plasma samples. The detection limit of 4-O-methylhonokiol was 0.2 μg/L and the linear ränge was 0.012 – 1.536 μg/L. The good extraction recoveries were obtained for the spiked samples (84.7%, 89.3% and 87.7% for low, middle and high concentrations of added Standards, respectively). The relative standard deviation of intra-day and inter-day precisions was in the ränge from 0.6% to 13.5%. The pharmacokinetic study of 4-O-methylhonokiol was made and the results from the plasma-concentration curve of 4-O-methylhonokiol showed a two-apartment open model. This work developed a sensitive, stable and rapid HPLC method for the determination of 4-O-methylhonokiol and the developed method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of 4-O-methylhonokiol.     

Determination of phthalate esters in physiological saline solution by monolithic silica spin column extraction method

Monolithic silica spin column extraction (MonoSpin-SPE) was developed as a simple, sensitive, and eco-friendly pretreatment method which combined with ultra-fast liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS) to determine the levels of six phthalate esters, dimethyl-(DMP), diethyl-(DEP), dipropyl- [DPrP], butyl-benzyl-(BBP), dicyclohexyl(DcHP), and di- n-octyl-(DOP) phthalate in physiological saline samples. Under optimized experimental conditions, the method was linear in the following ranges: 0.2- 50 μ/L for DMP, DEP, DPrP, DcHP and DOP; 5 – 100 μ/L for BBP. The correlation coefficients (R²) were in the range of O. 9951 – O. 9995 for all the analytes and the limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the ranges of 0.02 – 0.9 μ/L and 0.08 – 2.7 μ/L, respectively. The pretreatment process showed good reproducibility with inter-day and intra-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 8.5% and 11.2%, respectively. This method was used to determine the levels of six phthalate esters in physiological saline samples and the recoveries ranged from 71.2% to 107. 3%. DMP and DEP were found in actual physical saline samples (brand A and brand B).     

Development and validation of analytical method for the estimation of lamivudine in rabbit plasma

Lamivudine has been widely used in the treatment of HIV disease. A reliable, sensitive reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for lamivudine in rabbit plasma. The method was developed on Hypersil BDS C-18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) using a mobile phase of 0.25% Triethylamine buffer (pH 3.0): acetonitrile (70:30, v/v). The efficient was monitored by UV detector at 256 nm. The total run time was 15 min with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 25–2000 ng/mL. The retention times of lamivudine and internal standard (Nelfinavir) were 8.78 min and 10.86 min, respectively. The developed RP-HPLC method can be successfully applied for the quantitative pharmacokinetic parameters determination of lamivudine in rabbit model.     

Determination of metronidazole in a rat stomach by HPLC for obtaining basic data of the eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori

In the eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori changes of antibiotics as these concentrations or amount in the stomach after oral administration were not clear. A simple and accurate method for determining the concentration of metronidazole (MTZ) in homogenate of rat stomach was developed in order to obtain basic data to design a pharmaceutical preparation having targeting ability to the surface of gastric-mucosa. This method included a deproteinization process by methanol, separation with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and detection with an ultraviolet wavelength of 370 nm. Regression analysis showed that the method was linear over a standard curve range from 5 μg/mL to 2000 μg/mL. The inter-day precision and accuracy values between the ranges were 5.0% or better and ?7.5 to 5.2%, respectively. The newly developed method was applied to an analysis of gastric samples after oral administration of MTZ at a dose of 5 mg/kg. It was found that the residual MTZ in the stomach was determined within 5 h after dosing. This method is useful for monitoring MTZ in stomach after its oral administration to rats.     

Validated stability indicating methods for determination of nitazoxanide in presence of its degradation products

Three sensitive, selective and reproducible stability-indicating methods are presented for determination of nitazoxanide (NTZ), a new anti-protozoal drug, in presence of its degradation products. Method A utilizes the first derivative of ratio spectra spectrophotometry by measurement of the amplitude at 364.4 nm using one of the degradation products as a divisor. Method B is a chemometric-assisted spectrophotometry, where principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares (PLS) were applied. These two approaches were successfully applied to quantify NTZ in presence of degradation products using the information included in the absorption spectra in the range 260–360 nm. Method C is based on the separation of NTZ from its degradation products followed by densitometric measurement of the bands at 254 nm. The separation was carried out on silica gel 60F₂₅₄, using chloroform–methanol–ammonia solution–glacial acetic acid (95:5:1:1 by volume, pH=5.80) as a developing system. These methods are suitable as stability-indicating methods for the determination of NTZ in presence of its degradation products either in bulk powder or in pharmaceutical formulations. Statistical analysis of the results has been carried out revealing high accuracy and good precision.     

Development and validation of a normal-phase HPTLC method for the simultaneous analysis of Lamivudine and Zidovudine in fixed-dose combination tablets

Simultaneous quantification of Lamivudine and Zidovudine in tablets by HPTLC method was developed and validated. The chromatograms were developed using a mobile phase of toluene:ethyl acetate:methanol (4:4:2, v/v/v) on pre-coated plate of silica gel GF aluminum TLC plate and quantified by densitometric absorbance mode at 276 nm. The R_f values were 0.41±0.03 and 0.60±0.04 for Lamivudine and Zidovudine, respectively. The linearity of the method was found to be within the concentration range of 50?250 ng/spot for Lamivudine and for Zidovudine, it was 100?500 ng/spot. The lower limits of detection and quantification were 2.23 ng/spot and 7.90 ng/spot for Lamivudine and 2.90 ng/spot and 8.85 ng/spot for Zidovudine. The method was also validated for precision, specificity and recovery. This developed method was used to analyze fixed-dose tablets (Duovir, Cipla Ltd) samples of Lamivudine and Zidovudine.     

Simultaneous determination of nortriptyline hydrochloride and fluphenazine hydrochloride in microgram quantities from low dosage forms by liquid chromatography–UV detection

A novel method for the simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of nortriptyline hydrochloride and fluphenazine hydrochloride was developed and validated. Fluvastatin sodium was used as internal standard. The determination was performed on a Hypersil Gold C₈ column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) at 25 °C; the mobile phase, consisting of a mixture of formic acid (0.1 M, pH 2.16)-methanol (33:67, v/v), was delivered at a flow rate of 1.1 mL/min and detector wavelength at 251 nm. The retention time of nortriptyline, fluphenazine and fluvastatin was found to be 5.11, 8.05 and 11.38 min, respectively. Linearity ranges were 5.0–1350.0 and 10.0–1350.0 μg/mL with limit of detection values of 0.72 and 0.31 μg/mL, for nortriptyline and fluphenazine, respectively. Results of assay and recovery studies were statistically evaluated for its accuracy and precision. Correlation coefficients (r²) of the regression equations were greater than 0.999 in all cases. According to the validation results, the proposed method was found to be specific, accurate, precise and could be applied to the simultaneous quantitative analysis of nortriptyline and fluphenazine.     

Development and validation of analytical method for the estimation of nateglinide in rabbit plasma

Nateglinide has been widely used in the treatment of type-2 diabetics as an insulin secretogoga. A reliable, rapid, simple and sensitive reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for determination of nateglinide in rabbit plasma. The method was developed on Hypersil BDSC-18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 mm) using a mobile phase of 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) and acetonitrile (35:65, v/v). The elute was monitored with the UV–vis detector at 210 nm with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 25–2000 ng/mL. The retention times of nateglinide and internal standard (gliclazide) were 9.608 min and 11.821 min respectively. The developed RP-HPLC method can be successfully applied to the quantitative pharmacokinetic parameters determination of nateglinide in rabbit model.     

Quantification of desloratadine in human plasma by LC-ESI-MS/MS and application to a pharmacokinetic study

A simple, sensitive, and specific liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantification of desloratadine (DL) in human plasma using desloratadine-d5 (DLD5) as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was performed using an Xbridge C18 column (50 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) with an isocratic mobile phase composed of 10 mM ammonium formate: methanol (20:80, v/v), at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. DL and DLD5 were detected with proton adducts at m/z 311.2→259.2 and 316.2→264.3 in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) positive modes, respectively. Liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) method was used to extract the drug and the IS. The method was validated over a linear concentration range of 5.0–5000.0 pg/mL with a correlation coefficient of (r²)≥0.9994. This method demonstrated intra- and inter-day precision within 0.7–2.0% and 0.7–2.7%, and an accuracy within 101.4–102.4%, and 99.5–104.8%. DL was found to be stable throughout the freeze–thaw cycles, bench-top, and postoperative stability studies. This method was successfully applied in the analysis of plasma samples following oral administration of DL (5 mg) in 35 healthy Indian male human volunteers under fasting conditions.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric method for determination of amlodipine besylate in its pharmaceutical tablets

A simple and sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method has been developed and validated for determination of amlodipine besylate (AML). The method was based on the condensation reaction of AML with 7-chloro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole in an alkaline buffer (pH 8.6) producing a highly colored product. The color development was monitored spectrophometrically at the maximum absorption λ_max 470 nm. The factors affecting the reaction were studied and the conditions were optimized. The stoichiometry of the reaction was determined, and the reaction pathway was postulated. Moreover, both the activation energy and the specific rate constant (at 70 °C) of the reaction were found to be 6.74 kcal mole^?1 and 3.58 s^?1, respectively. The initial rate and fixed time methods were utilized for constructing the calibration graphs for the determination of AML concentration. Under the optimum reaction conditions, the limits of detection and quantification were 0.35 and 1.05 μg/mL, respectively. The precision of the method was satisfactory; the relative standard deviations were 0.85–1.76%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of AML in its pure form and tablets with good accuracy; the recovery percentages ranged from 99.55±1.69% to 100.65±1.48%. The results were compared with that of the reported method.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric methods for determination of aripiprazole

Anodic behavior of aripiprazole (ARP) was studied using electrochemical methods. Charge transfer, diffusion and surface coverage coefficients of adsorbed molecules and the number of electrons transferred in electrode mechanisms were calculated for quasi-reversible and adsorption-controlled electrochemical oxidation of ARP at 1.15 V versus Ag/AgCl at pH 4.0 in Britton–Robinson buffer (BR) on glassy carbon electrode. Voltammetric methods for direct determination of ARP in pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological samples were developed. Linearity range is found as from 11.4 μM (5.11 mg/L) to 157 μM (70.41 mg/L) without stripping mode and it is found as from 0.221 μM (0.10 mg/L) to 13.6 μM (6.10 mg/L) with stripping mode. Limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 0.11 μM (0.05 mg/L) in stripping voltammetry. Methods were successfully applied to assay the drug in tablets, human serum and human urine with good recoveries between 95.0% and 104.6% with relative standard deviation less than 10%.     

Determination of metabolite of nicergoline in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography and its application in pharmacokinetic studies

A fast, simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for determination of 10α-methoxy-6-methyl ergoline-8β-methanol (MDL, a main metabolite of nicergoline) in human plasma. One-step liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) with diethyl ether was employed as the sample preparation method. Tizanidine hydrochloride was selected as the internal standard (IS). Analysis was carried out on a Diamonsil ODS column (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) using acetonitrile–ammonium acetate (0.1 mol/L) (15/85, v/v) as mobile phase at detection wavelength of 224 nm. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 2.288–73.2 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 2.288 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision values were below 13% and the recoveries were from 74.47% to 83.20% at three quality control levels. The method herein described was successfully applied in a randomized crossover bioequivalence study of two different nicergoline preparations after administration of 30 mg in 20 healthy volunteers.     

Synchronized separation of atorvastatin—an antihyperlipidemic drug with antihypertensive,antidiabetic, antithrombotic drugs by RP-LC for determination in combined formulations

A new rapid and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of atorvastatin—an antihyperlipidemic drug along with most commonly prescribed drugs (antihyperlipidemic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antithrombotic) in bulk and marketed combined formulations. The chromatographic separation was carried out by gradient elution mode with acetonitrile as organic modifier and 0.1% triethylamine acetate (TEAA) buffer pH 5 at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and a diode array detector at wavelength 230 nm was employed for detection of the analytes. Calibration curves were linear in the range of 5–150 μg/mL for all the drugs with correlation coefficients of determination (r² values)≥0.999. Limits of detection (LODs) and Limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.1 to 0.27 μg/mL and 0.3 to 0.89 μg/mL respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precision was studied at three concentration levels (20, 60 and 100 μg/mL). The intra-day and inter-day RSD for all compounds was less than 2.0%. The accuracy for all compounds was found to be between 98% and 102%. Thus, the performance of the method described allows its use in quantification of atorvastatin along with 9 most commonly prescribed drugs available in market as atorvastatin combined dosage forms.     

Validated LC–MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of SIM and its acid form in human plasma and cell lysate: Pharmacokinetic application

Simvastatin (SIM) is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor widely used in hyperlipidemia therapy. SIM has recently been studied for its anticancer activity at doses higher than those used for the hyperlipidemia therapy. This prompted us to study the pharmacokinetics of high-dose SIM in cancer patients. For this purpose, an LC–MS/MS method was developed to measure SIM and its acid form (SIMA) in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from patients. Chromatographic analyte separation was carried out on a reverse-phase column using 75:25 (% v/v) acetonitrile:ammonium acetate (0.1 M, pH 5.0) mobile phase. Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, equipped with a turbo ion spray source and operated in positive ionization mode. The assay was linear over a range 2.5–500 ng/mL for SIM and 5–500 ng/mL for SIMA in plasma and 2.5–250 ng/mL for SIM and 5–250 ng/mL for SIMA in cell lysate. Recovery was >58% for SIM and >75% for SIMA in both plasma and cell lysate. SIM and SIMA were stable in plasma, cell lysate and the reconstitution solution. This method was successfully applied for the determination of SIM and SIMA in plasma and PBMCs samples collected in the pharmacokinetic study of high-dose SIM in cancer patients.     

Development of a sensitive and rapid method for quantitation of (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-metoprolol in human plasma by chiral LC–ESI–MS/MS

A selective, sensitive and high throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) method has been developed for separation and quantification of metoprolol enantiomers on a chiral Lux Amylose-2 (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column. Solid phase extraction of (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-metoprolol and rac-metoprolol-d6 as an internal standard (IS) was achieved on Lichrosep DVB HL cartridges employing 200 μL human plasma. Both the analytes were chromatographically separated with a resolution factor of 2.24 using 15 mM ammonium acetate in water, pH 5.0 and 0.1% (v/v) diethyl amine in acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) as the mobile phase within 7.0 min. The precursor→product ion transitions for the enantiomers and IS were monitored in the multiple reaction monitoring and positive ionization mode. The method was validated over the concentration range of 0.500–500 ng/mL for both the enantiomers. Matrix effect was assessed by post-column analyte infusion experiment and the mean extraction recovery was greater than 94.0% for both the enantiomers at all quality control levels. The stability of analytes was evaluated in plasma and whole blood under different storage conditions. The method was successfully applied to a clinical study in 14 healthy volunteers after oral administration of 200 mg metoprolol tablet under fasting conditions. The assay reproducibility is shown by reanalysis of 68 incurred samples. The suitability of the developed method was assessed in comparison with different chromatographic methods developed for stereoselective analysis of metoprolol in biological matrices.