Spectrophotometric determination of acyclovir and ribavirin in their dosage forms

Two simple, accurate, and reliable spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of 2 antiviral drugs, acyclovir (ACV) and ribavirin (RBV), in their pharmaceutical formulations. These methods are based on oxidation of the 2 drugs with either cerium (IV) ammonium sulfate (Method A) or potassium persulfate (Method B). The products of oxidation in both methods are coupled with 3-methylbenzothiazolin 2-one hydrazone, producing a deep blue color with a maximum absorption wavelength at 630 nm. In Method A, the absorbance-concentration plots were linear over the ranges of 5-50 and 10-60 microg/mL with detection limits of 0.18 microg/mL (8 x 10(-7) M) and 0.63 microg/mL (2.58 x 10(-6) M) for ACV and RBV, respectively. In Method B, the ranges were 5-45 and 20-50 microg/mL with detection limits of 0.11 microg/mL (4.88 x 10(-7) M) and 1.40 microg/mL (5.73 x 10(-6) M) for the 2 drugs, respectively. The molar absorptivities were 4.1 x 10(3) and 3.65 x 10(3) L/mol/cm in Method A and 5.03 x 10(3) and 3.97 x 10(3) L/mol/cm in Method B for the 2 drugs, respectively. The proposed methods were applied successfully for the determination of the 2 drugs in their pharmaceutical formulations. The percentage recoveries +/- standard deviation were 99.57 +/- 0.86 and 100.82 +/- 0.46 for ACV; 99.41 +/- 1.08 and 100.35 +/- 1.03 for RBV. The results obtained were compared statistically with those given by official methods and showed no significant differences regarding accuracy and precision.     

Simultaneous determination of dapsone and pyrimethamine by derivative spectrophotometry in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple and fast method was developed for the simultaneous determination of dapsone and pyrimethamine by first-order digital derivative spectrophotometry. Acetonitrile was used as a solvent to extract the drugs from the pharmaceutical formulations, and the samples were subsequently evaluated directly by digital derivative spectrophotometry. The simultaneous determination of both drugs was performed by the zero-crossing method at 249.4 and 231.4 nm for dapsone and pyrimethamine, respectively. The best signal-to-noise ratio was obtained when the first derivative of the spectrum was used. The linear range of determination for the drugs was from 6.6 x 10(-7) to 2.0 x 10(-4) and from 2.5 x 10(-6) to 2.0 x 10(-4) mol/L for dapsone and pyrimethamine, respectively. The excipients of commercial pharmaceutical formulations did not interfere in the analysis. Chemical and spectral variables were optimized for determination of both analytes. A good level of repeatability, 0.6 and 1.7% for dapsone and pyrimethamine, respectively, was observed. The proposed method was applied for the simultaneous determination of both drugs in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Simultaneous determination of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate in pharmaceutical formulations by second-derivative spectrophotometry

This paper reports a simple and fast method for the simultaneous determination of estradiol (ED) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MP) in pharmaceutical formulations by second-derivative spectrophotometry. Methanol was used to extract the drugs from formulations, and subsequently the extracts were evaluated directly by derivative spectrophotometry. The drugs were determined simultaneously by using the graphic method at 297.4 nm for ED and the zero-crossing method at 273.4 nm for MP. If both compounds are present together in a sample, it is possible to quantitate one in the presence of the other. The best signal-to-noise ratio was found when the second derivative of the spectrum was used. The linear ranges for determination of the drugs were 4.7 x 10(-6) to 1.6 x 10(-4) and 7.2 x 10(-6) to 2.0 x 10(-4) mol/L for ED and MP, respectively. The ingredients commonly found in commercial pharmaceutical formulations do not interfere with the determination. Chemical and spectral variables were optimized for the determination of both analytes. Good levels of repeatability (relative standard deviation), 1.4 and 1.9%, were obtained for ED and MP, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Simultaneous determination of N-butylscopolamine and oxazepam in pharmaceutical formulations by first-order digital derivative spectrophotometry

A simple method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of N-butylscopolamine bromide and oxazepam in pharmaceutical formulations using first-order digital derivative spectrophotometry. Acetonitrile was selected as the solvent in which both compounds showed well-defined bands. Both analytes showed good stability in this solvent when solutions of the analytes were exposed to light and temperatures between 20 degrees and 80 degrees C. The simultaneous determination of both drugs was performed by the zero-crossing method at 226.0 and 257.0 nm for N-butylscopolamine and oxazepam, respectively. The linear range of determination was found to be 2.5 x 10(-7) to 8.0 x 10(-5) mol/L for N-butylscopolamine and 7.1 x 10(-8) to 8.0 x 10(-5) mol/L for oxazepam. A very good level of repeatability (relative standard deviation) of 0.2% was observed for N-butylscopolamine and oxazepam. The ingredients commonly found in pharmaceutical formulations do not interfere. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations (capsules).     

Extractive spectrophotometric determination of fluoroquinolones and antiallergic drugs in pure and pharmaceutical formulations.

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric procedure has been proposed for the assay of fluoroquinolones viz., ciprofloxacin (CPF) and norfloxacin (NRF), and antiallergic drugs viz., methdilazine hydrochloride (MDH) and isothipendyl hydrochloride (IPH) in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on the reaction of selected drugs with Brilliant Blue G (BBG) in NaOAc-AcOH buffer of pH 4.0 for CPF and NRF or in neutral medium for MDH and IPH to give chloroform soluble ion-association complexes. The effects of various parameters have been studied. The ion-association complexes exhibited absorption maxima at 610 nm for CPF, at 614 nm for NRF and MDH, and at 612 nm for IPH. Beer's law plots were obeyed in the concentration ranges of 0.5-6.0, 0.4-8.0, 0.1-6.0 and 0.2-6.1 (mg ml(-1) for CPF, NRF, MDH and IPH, respectively, with correlation coefficients not less than 0.9969. Molar absorptivity values as calculated from the Beer's law data were found to be 2.86 x 10(4), 2.64 x 10(4), 3.13 x 10(4) and 5.51 x 10(4) mol(-1) cm(-1) for CPF, NRF, MDH and IPH, respectively. The influence of commonly employed excipients in the determination of the studied drugs has been studied. The results obtained by the proposed method were statistically validated.     

Spectrophotometric determination of four macrolide antibiotics in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids via binary complex formation with eosin [corrected

A simple, rapid, and sensitive validated spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of certain macrolide antibiotics namely, erythromycin (I), azithromycin dihydrate (II), clarithromycin (III), and roxithromycin (IV) in bulk powders, pharmaceutical formulations, and spiked biological fluids. The proposed method is based on the formation of a binary complex between each of the studied drugs and eosin Y in aqueous buffered medium. Under the optimum conditions, the binary complexes showed absorption maxima at 542-544 nm. The absorbance of the binary complexes obeyed Beer's law over the concentration range of 1-10 micro/g/mL for II, 2-20 microg/mL for I and IV, and 3-30 microg/mL for III. The mean percentage recoveries were 100.04 +/- 0.83, 99.98 +/- 0.80, 100.17 +/- 0.91, and 99.55 +/- 0.91, with minimum detectable molarities of 2 x 10(-7) for I and II, 4 x 10(-7) for III, and 3 x 10(-7) for IV. The different experimental parameters affecting the development and stability of the colors were studied and optimized. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of the cited drugs in some pharmaceutical formulations. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using the reference methods. The proposed method was further applied to spiked human urine and plasma. A proposal of the reaction pathway is suggested.     

Estimation of cephalosporin antibiotics by differential pulse polarography

Differential pulse polarographic (DPP) method of determination of cephalosporins has been developed based on the electrochemistry of the azomethine group in the drugs in universal buffers of pH 2.0-12.0. Quantitative measurements were successful in the concentration range of 1.0 x 10(-5) M-2.5 x 10(-8) M, the lower concentration representing the detection limit by DPP. The described procedure has been applied for the determination of these drugs individually in pharmaceutical formulations and urine samples as well as for simultaneous determination in a single run.     

Spectrophotometric and potentiometric determination of piroxicam and tenoxicam in pharmaceutical preparations

Two simple and accurate methods are described for the determination of piroxicam and tenoxicam in their pharmaceutical preparations. The spectrophotometric method involves the oxidation of these drugs with potassium iodate in acid medium with the liberation of iodine and subsequent extraction with cyclohexane followed by measuring the absorbance at lambda=522 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 0.05-1.1 and 0.05-0.6 mg x ml(-1) for piroxicam and tenoxicam, respectively. The apparent molar absorptivities of the resulting coloured products are found to be 2.7 x 10(3) and 2.5 x 10(3) l mol(-1) x cm(-1), whereas Sandell sensitivities are 0.012 and 0.013 g x cm(-2) for piroxicam and tenoxicam, respectively. The potentiometric method involves the direct titration of both drugs with N-bromosuccinimide in acid medium and the end point is determined potentiometrically using platinum indicator electrode. Piroxicam and tenoxicam can be determined quantitatively in the concentration range of 0.33-3.37 and 0.33-4.08 mg x ml(-1) for tenoxicam and piroxicam, respectively. The standard deviation and relative standard deviation values are found to be ranged from 0.05-0.07 and 0.37-0.98% and 0.025-0.078 and 0.25-1.2% for tenoxicam and piroxicam, respectively. The two methods are accurate within +/-1.0%. Optimum conditions affecting both methods are studied. The proposed methods are applied for the determination of the drugs in pure form and in commercial pharmaceutical preparations.     

Spectrophotometric determination of some histamine H1-antagonists drugs in their pharmaceutical preparations

Two rapid, simple and sensitive extractive specrophotometric methods has been developed for the determination of three histamine H1-antagonists drugs, e.g., chlorphenoxamine hydrochloride (CPX), diphenhydramine hydrochloride (DPH) and clemastine (CMT) in bulk and in their pharmaceutical formulations. The first method depend upon the reaction of molybdenum(V) thiocyanate ions (Method A) with the cited drugs to form stable ion-pair complexes which extractable with methylene chloride, the orange red color complex was determined colorimetrically at lambda(max) 470nm. The second method is based on the formation of an ion-association complex with alizarin red S as chromogenic reagents in acidic medium (Method B), which is extracted into chloroform. The complexes have a maximum absorbance at 425 and 426nm for (DPH or CMT) and CPX, respectively. Regression analysis of Beer-Lambert plots showed a good correlation in the concentration ranges of 5.0-40 and 5-70microgmL(-1) for molybdenum(V) thiocyanate (Method A) and alizarin red S (Method B), respectively. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration ranges were calculated. The molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantification limits were calculated. Applications of the procedure to the analysis of various pharmaceutical preparations gave reproducible and accurate results. Further, the validity of the procedure was confirmed by applying the standard addition technique and the results obtained in good agreement well with those obtained by the official method.     

Simple, sensitive, selective and validated spectrophotometric methods for the estimation of a biomarker trigonelline from polyherbal gels

Simple, accurate, reproducible, selective, sensitive and cost effective UV-spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for the estimation of trigonelline in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations. Trigonelline was estimated at 265 nm in deionised water and at 264 nm in phosphate buffer (pH 4.5). Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration ranges of 1-20microg mL(-1) (r2=0.9999) in deionised water and 1-24 microg mL(-1) (r2=0.9999) in the phosphate buffer medium. The apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity coefficient were found to be 4.04 x 10(3)L mol(-1)cm(-1) and 0.0422 microg cm(-2)/0.001A in deionised water; and 3.05 x 10(3)L mol(-1)cm(-1) and 0.0567 microg cm(-2)/0.001A in phosphate buffer media, respectively. These methods were tested and validated for various parameters according to ICH guidelines. The detection and quantitation limits were found to be 0.12 and 0.37 microg mL(-1) in deionised water and 0.13 and 0.40 microg mL(-1) in phosphate buffer medium, respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of trigonelline in pharmaceutical formulations (vaginal tablets and bioadhesive vaginal gels). The results demonstrated that the procedure is accurate, precise, specific and reproducible (percent relative standard deviation <2%), while being simple and less time consuming and hence can be suitably applied for the estimation of trigonelline in different dosage forms and dissolution studies.     

Determination of attapulgite and nifuroxazide in pharmaceutical formulations by sequential digital derivative spectrophotometry

A new method for the sequential determination of attapulgite and nifuroxazide in pharmaceutical formulations by first- and second-derivative spectrophotometry, respectively, has been developed. In order to obtain the optimal conditions for nifuroxazide stability, studies of solvent, light, and temperature effects were performed. The results show that a previous hydrolysis of 2 h in 1.0 x 10(-1)M NaOH solution is necessary in order to obtain stable compounds for analytical purposes. Subsequently, the first- and second-derivative spectra were evaluated directly in the same samples. The sequential determination of the drugs can be performed using the zero-crossing method; the attapulgite determination was carried out using the first derivative at 278.0 nm and the nifuroxazide determination, using the second derivative at 282.0 nm. The determination ranges were 5.7 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-4) and 3.7 x 10(-8) -1.2 x 10(-4)M for attapulgite and nifuroxazide, respectively. Repeatability (relative standard deviation) values of 1.2 and 3.0% were observed for attapulgite and nifuroxazide, respectively. The ingredients commonly found in commercial pharmaceutical formulations do not interfere. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these drugs in tablets. Further, infrared spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry studies were carried out in order to obtain knowledge of the decomposition products of nifuroxazide.     

Spectrophotometric methods for determination of enalapril and timolol in bulk and in drug formulations

Two simple and accurate spectrophotometric methods for determination of timolol and enalapril maleate are described. The first method is based on chelate formation with palladium(II) chloride in buffered medium. The second method is based on the formation of the colored complex between palladium(II), eosin, and the two cited drugs using methylcellulose as surfactant to increase the solubility and intensity of the formed complexes. Under optimum conditions the complexes showed maximum absorption at 369.4 nm and 362.8 nm for timolol and enalapril maleate, respectively, in the first method and 552.2 and 550.6 nm for the second method. Apparent molar absorptivities were 1.8 x 10(3) and 1.3 x 10(3) and Sandell's sensitivities were 5.9 x 10(-4) and 2.7 x 10(-4) for timolol and enalapril maleate in the first method; in the second method molar absorptivities were 2.8 x 10(4) and 1.1 x 10(4) while Sandell's constants were 9.1 x 10(-3) and 2.3 x 10(-3) for timolol and enalapril maleate. The solutions of the complexes obeyed Beer's law in the concentration ranges 20-200 micro g mL(-1) and 50-300 micro g mL(-1) for timolol and enalapril maleate, respectively. In the second method, because the reaction was more sensitive the ranges were reduced to 1.6-16 micro g mL(-1) for timolol 8-56 micro g mL(-1) for enalapril maleate. The proposed methods were applied to the determination of the two drugs in their pharmaceutical formulation.     

Spectrophotometric determination of fluoxetine by batch and flow injection methods

A rapid, simple, and accurate spectrophotometric method is presented for the determination of fluoxetine by batch and flow injection analysis methods. The method is based on fluoxetine competitive complexation reaction with phenolphthalein-beta-cyclodextrin (PHP-beta-CD) inclusion complex. The increase in the absorbance of the solution at 554 nm by the addition of fluoxetine was measured. The formation constant for fluoxetin-beta-CD was calculated by non-linear least squares fitting. Fluoxetine can be determined in the range 7.0 x 10(-6)-2.4 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) and 5.0 x 10(-5)-1.0 x 10(-2) mol l(-1) by batch and flow methods, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were respectively 4.13 x 10(-6) mol l(-1) and 1.38 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) for batch and 2.46 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) and 8.22 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) for flow method. The sampling rate in flow injection analysis method was 80+/-5 samples h(-1). The method was applied to the determination of fluoxetine in pharmaceutical formulations and after addition to human urine samples.     

Spectrophotometric determination of tranexamic acid in pharmaceutical bulk and dosage forms.

In this study, a simple, fast, accurate and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of tranexamic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on the reaction of ninhydrin with the primary amino group of tranexamic acid in the basic medium at pH 8.0. The reaction produces a bluish-purple color which absorbs maximally at 565 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 3-40 microg ml(-1) with molar absorptivity of 5.093 x 10(3) L mol(-1) cm(-1). The effects of various factors such as temperature, heating time, concentration of reagent, color stability and interferences were investigated to optimize the procedure. The results have been validated analytically and statistically. The proposed method has been applied for the determination of tranexamic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical preparations with good results.     

Atomic absorption spectroscopic, conductometric and colorimetric methods for determination of some fluoroquinolone antibacterials using ammonium reineckate

Three accurate, rapid and simple atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS), conductometric and colorimetric methods were developed for the determination of gatifloxacin (GTF), moxifloxacin (MXF) and sparfloxacin (SPF). The proposed methods depend upon the reaction of ammonium reineckate with the studied drugs to form stable precipitate of ion-pair complexes, which was dissolved in acetone. The pink coloured complexes were determined either by AAS or colorimetrically at lambda(max) 525 nm directly using the dissolved complex. Using conductometric titration, the studied drugs could be evaluated in 50% (v/v) acetone. The optimizations of various experimental conditions were described. Optimum concentration ranges for the determination of GTF, MXF and SPF were 5.0-150, 40-440 microg mL(-1) and 0.10-1.5 mg mL(-1) using atomic absorption (AAS), conductometric and colorimetric methods, respectively. Detection and quantification limits are ranges from 1.5 to 2.3 microg mL(-1) using AAS method or 30-45 microg mL(-1) using colorimetric method. The proposed procedures have been applied successfully to the analysis of these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations and the results are favourably comparable to the reference methods.     

Determination of cimetidine,famotidine, and ranitidine hydrochloride in the presence of their sulfoxide derivatives in pure and dosage forms by high-performance thin-layer chromatography and scanning densitometry

A selective, precise, and accurate method was developed for the determination of cimetidine (C), famotidine (F), and ranitidine hydrochloride (R x HCl) in the presence of their sulfoxide derivatives. The method involves quantitative densitometric evaluation of mixtures of the drugs and their derivatives after separation by high-performance thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates (10 x 20 cm) with ethyl acetate-isopropanol-20% ammonia (9 + 5 + 4, v/v) as the mobile phase for both C and F and ethyl acetate-methanol-20% ammonia (10 + 2 + 2, v/v) as the mobile phase for R x HCl; Rf values for C, F, and R x HCl and their corresponding derivatives were 0.85 and 0.59, 0.73 and 0.41, and 0.56 and 0.33, respectively. Developing time was approximately 20 min. For densitometric evaluation, peak areas were recorded at 218, 265, and 313 nm for C, F, and R x HCl, respectively. The relationship between concentration and the corresponding peak area was plotted for the ranges of 5-50 microg/spot for C and 2-20 microg/spot for F and R x HCl. Mean recoveries were 100.39 +/- 1.33, 99.77 +/- 1.30, and 100.09 +/- 0.69% for C, F, and R x HCl, respectively. The proposed method was used successfully for stability testing of the pure drugs in the presence of up to 90% of their degradates, in bulk powder and dosage forms. The results obtained were analyzed statistically and compared with those obtained by the official methods.     

Validated spectrophotometric methods for the estimation of moxifloxacin in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations

New, simple, cost effective, accurate and reproducible UV-spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for the estimation of moxifloxacin in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations. Moxifloxacin was estimated at 296 nm in 0.1N hydrochloric acid (pH 1.2) and at 289 nm in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1-12 microg ml(-1) (r2=0.9999) in hydrochloric acid and 1-14 microg ml(-1) (r2=0.9998) in the phosphate buffer medium. The apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity coefficient were found to be 4.63 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 9.5 ng cm(-2)/0.001 A in hydrochloric acid; and 4.08 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 10.8 ng cm(-2)/0.001 A in phosphate buffer media, respectively indicating the high sensitivity of the proposed methods. These methods were tested and validated for various parameters according to ICH guidelines. The detection and quantitation limits were found to be 0.0402, 0.1217 microg ml(-1) in hydrochloric acid and 0.0384, 0.1163 microg ml(-1) in phosphate buffer medium, respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of moxifloxacin in pharmaceutical formulations (tablets, i.v. infusions, eye drops and polymeric nanoparticles). The results demonstrated that the procedure is accurate, precise and reproducible (relative standard deviation <2%), while being simple, cheap and less time consuming and hence can be suitably applied for the estimation of moxifloxacin in different dosage forms and dissolution studies.     

Spectrophotometric determination of benzydamine HCl, levamisole HCl and mebeverine HCl through ion-pair complex formation with methyl orange

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been proposed for the assay of benzydamine HCl (BENZ), levamisole HCl (LEV) and mebeverine HCl (MBV) in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations. The method based on the reaction of the selected drugs with methyl orange (MO) in buffered aqueous solution at pH 3.6. The formed yellow ion-pair complexes were extracted with dichloromethane and measured quantitatively with maximum absorption at 422 nm. The analytical parameters and their effects on the reported systems are investigated. The extracts are intensely colored and very stable at room temperature. The calibration graphs were linear over the concentration range of 2-10 microg ml(-1) for BENZ, 6-24 microg ml(-1) for LEV and 4-14 microg ml(-1) for MBV. The stoichiometry of the reaction was found to be 1:1 in all cases and the conditional stability constant (K(f)) of the complexes have been calculated. The proposed method was successfully extended to pharmaceutical preparations-tablets. Excipients used as additive in commercial formulations did not interfere in the analysis. The proposed method can be recommended for quality control and routine analysis where time, cost effectiveness and high specificity of analytical technique are of great importance.     

Quinoline-2-aldehyde thiosemicarbazone (QAT) as spectrophotometric reagent for palladium and nickel

A procedure is described for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of nickel and palladium with quinoline-2-aldehyde thiosemicarbazone. At pH 7.5 nickel forms a 1:2 complex which is soluble in chloroform and has an absorption maximum at 460 nm. Palladium forms a 1:2 complex with maximum absorbance at 510 nm which can be extracted into MIBK from 1M HCl. Both complexes are stable and conform to Beer's law. The molar absorptivities for nickel and palladium are 1.58 x 10(4) and 2.6 x 10(3) 1.mole(-1). cm(-1) respectively. The proposed method is suitable for detection and determination of nickel and palladium in the presence of associated metal ions. The results of the analysis of synthetic mixtures and standard samples are reported.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-ultraviolet absorbance detection assay using derivatisation for the novel marine anticancer agent ES-285 x HCl [(2S,3R)-2-amino-3-octadecanol hydrochloride] and its pharmaceutical dosage form

ES-285 x HCl [(2S,3R)-2-amino-3-octadecanol hydrochloride] is a novel investigational anticancer agent, which has shown in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activity against various tumor cell lines with selectivity for certain solid tumors. The pharmaceutical development of ES-285 x HCl warranted the availability of an assay for the quantification and purity determination of ES-285 x HCl active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and its pharmaceutical dosage form. A liquid chromatographic method (LC) comprising of derivatisation of ES-285 x HCl with phenylisothiocyanate and UV-detection was developed. The method was found to be linear, precise and accurate. The assay also proved selectivity as determined by analysing ES-285 x HCl in combination with 15 analogues and in combination with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, the excipient used in the lyophilised pharmaceutical dosage form. Stress testing showed that the degradation products were separated from the parent compound, confirming its stability indicating capacity. The method was found robust as determined with design of experiments (DoE), which made it possible to predict system suitability responses in worst case experimental conditions and to define criteria for system suitability testing.