Stress degradation studies and kinetic determinations of duloxetine enteric-coated pellets by HPLC

A stability-indicating HPLC assay method was developed for the quantitative determination of duloxetine (DLX) in a pharmaceutical dosage form in the presence of its degradation products, and kinetic determinations were evaluated in acid conditions and UV-C radiation exposure. Chromatographic separation was achieved by use of an ACE C18 column (250 x 4.0 mm id, 5 microm particle size). The mobile phase was prepared by mixing aqueous 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0 containing 0.3% triethylamine) and acetonitrile (60 + 40, v/v). DLX was rapidly degraded in an acid medium and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and UV-C radiation; it was more stable in alkaline medium. The described method was linear over a range of 4.0-14.0 microg/mL for determination of DLX (r = 0.9998). The precision was demonstrated by the RSD of intraday (0.79-1.07%) and interday (0.85%) studies. The mean recovery was found to be 100.56%. The acid degradation of DLX in 0.1 M HCI solution showed an apparent zero-order kinetics (k = 0.177 microg/mL/min), and the photodegradation demonstrated an apparent first-order kinetics (k = 0.082 microg/mL/min). The developed method was found to be simple, specific, robust, linear, precise, and accurate for the determination of DLX in enteric-coated pellets.     

Degradation kinetics of telithromycin determined by HPLC method

The degradation kinetics of the antibiotic telithromycin using a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is demonstrated. The photodegradation is performed by UVC lamp-254 nm (15W), installed in a chamber internally coated with mirrors, where telithromycin solutions prepared from coated tablets are placed in quartz cells. To promote oxidation, the reaction between the telithromycin solution and 3% hydrogen peroxide solution is carried out. The kinetics parameters of order of reaction and the rate constants of the degradation are determined for both conditions. The degradation process of telithromycin can be described by first-order kinetics under both experimental conditions used in this study. The results reveal the photo and oxidation lability of the drug and confirm the reliability of HPLC method for telithromycin in the presence of its degradation products.     

Gemifloxacin mesylate (GFM) stability evaluation applying a validated bioassay method and in vitro cytotoxic study

The validation of a microbiological assay applying the cylinder-plate method to determine the quinolone gemifloxacin mesylate (GFM) content is described. Using a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 as the test organism, the GFM content in tablets at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 4.5 μg mL⁻¹ could be determined. A standard curve was obtained by plotting three values derived from the diameters of the growth inhibition zone. A prospective validation showed that the method developed is linear (r = 0.9966), precise (repeatability and intermediate precision), accurate (100.63%), specific and robust. GFM solutions (from the drug product) exposed to direct UVA radiation (352 nm), alkaline hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, thermal stress, hydrogen peroxide causing oxidation, and a synthetic impurity were used to evaluate the specificity of the bioassay. The bioassay and the previously validated high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method were compared using Student's t test, which indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between these two validated methods. These studies demonstrate the validity of the proposed bioassay, which allows reliable quantification of GFM in tablets and can be used as a useful alternative methodology for GFM analysis in stability studies and routine quality control. The GFM reference standard (RS), photodegraded GFM RS, and synthetic impurity samples were also studied in order to determine the preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity to peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The results indicated that the GFM RS and photodegraded GFM RS were potentially more cytotoxic than the synthetic impurity under the conditions of analysis applied.     

HPLC‐DAD for the determination of three different classes of antifungals: method characterization,statistical approach,and application to a permeation study

This study describes and characterizes methods for high‐performance liquid chromatography diode array detection (HPLC‐DAD) analysis of formulations containing molecules with antifungal activity of three different classes: terbinafine and butenafine (allylamines), miconazole and fluconazole (azoles), and geraniol, neral and geranial (monoterpenes). All methods used the same chromatographic column (RP₁₈), enabling the analysis to be performed in a single batch. The specificity was extensively discussed through the establishment of purity peak methods. The analytical parameters (linearity, precision and accuracy) were calculated and discussed in detail using specific statistical approaches. All substances showed satisfactory results for chromatographic and analytical parameters. Limits of 1.3% to mean repeatability and 2.0% for intermediate precision are suggested as acceptance criteria in validation of methods by HPLC‐DAD, in situations where there is no extensive pretreatment of the samples. The methods proved to be robust and significant factors were discussed regarding their influence on chromatographic parameters (retention time, resolution, tailing factor and column efficiency). Finally, the application of the developed methods was demonstrated by the results of a permeation study of the antifungal agents through bovine hoof membranes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural elucidation of gemifloxacin mesylate degradation product

Gemifloxacin mesylate (GFM), chemically (R,S)‐7‐[(4Z)‐3‐(aminomethyl)‐4‐(methoxyimino)‐1‐pyrrolidinyl]‐1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐1,8‐naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid methanesulfonate, is a synthetic broad‐spectrum antibacterial agent. Although many papers have been published in the literature describing the stability of fluorquinolones, little is known about the degradation products of GFM. Forced degradation studies of GFM were performed using radiation (UV‐A), acid (1 mol L^?1 HCl) and alkaline conditions (0.2 mol L^?1 NaOH). The main degradation product, formed under alkaline conditions, was isolated using semi‐preparative LC and structurally elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (proton – ¹H; carbon – ¹³C; correlate spectroscopy – COSY; heteronuclear single quantum coherence – HSQC; heteronuclear multiple‐bond correlation – HMBC; spectroscopy – infrared, atomic emission and mass spectrometry techniques). The degradation product isolated was characterized as sodium 7‐amino‐1‐pyrrolidinyl‐1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐1,8‐naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylate, which was formed by loss of the 3‐(aminomethyl)‐4‐(methoxyimino)‐1‐pyrrolidinyl ring and formation of the sodium carboxylate. The structural characterization of the degradation product was very important to understand the degradation mechanism of the GFM under alkaline conditions. In addition, the results highlight the importance of appropriate protection against hydrolysis and UV radiation during the drug‐development process, storage, handling and quality control. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of clopidogrel in coated tablets

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for clopidogrel determination in pharmaceutical formulations. The system consisted of an ACE 5 octadecylsilane (C18; 150 x 4.6 mm id), 5.0 microm particle size column; methanol-0.1% triethylamine (75 + 25, v/v), pH 5.3, mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min; and a diode array detector set at 220 nm. Specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness were the parameters evaluated. The retention time for clopidogrel was 6.8 min. To estimate specificity, an aqueous sample solution was subjected to degradation by ultraviolet light and by acid, alkaline, and oxidation media. The peaks of degradation products did not interfere with the compound signal, and there was no interference when a placebo solution was analyzed. Linearity over a concentration range of 10.0 to 90.0 microg/mL was shown (correlation coefficient = 0.9998). Low values of relative standard deviation indicated the adequate intraday and interday precision. The average recovery was found as 99.16%. In the robustness test, small modifications to the mobile phase composition did not affect the determination of clopidogrel. The proposed method proved to be simple, fast, and cost efficient for the intended use.     

Stability-indicating RP-LC method for the determination of vildagliptin and mass spectrometry detection for a main degradation product

A simple, precise and stability-indicating reversed-phase liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the determination of vildagliptin (VLG) in pharmaceutical dosage form. The chromatographic separation was obtained within 6 min and was linear in the range of 20-80 μg/mL (r(2) = 0.9999). Limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.63 and 2.82 μg/mL, respectively. The method was validated in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization acceptance criteria for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness and system suitability. Stress studies were carried out and no interference of the degradation products was observed. The excipients did not interfere in the determination of VLG. Furthermore, the main degradation product obtained from the stress studies (thermal, oxidative and alkaline hydrolysis) was evaluated for mass spectrometry and its molecular structure was predicted. The proposed method was successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of VLG in tablet dosage form, which will help to improve quality control and contribute to stability studies of pharmaceutical tablets containing this drug.     

UV spectrophotometry and nonaqueous determination of terbinafine hydrochloride in dosage forms.

An ultraviolet spectrophotometric and a nonaqueous volumetric method for determining terbinafine hydrochloride (TH) in pharmaceutical formulations are presented. The UV spectrophotometric procedure was developed for assay of TH in raw materials, tablets, and creams. The method was tested for linearity (0.8-2.8 micrograms/mL, r = 0.9997), recovery (102.00% for creams and 99.90% for tablets) and precision (101.3%, CV = 0.96%, n = 9, for creams; 100.25%, CV = 1.08%, n = 9, for tablets). The volumetric method involves titration of TH with 0.05M perchloric acid with crystal violet as indicator. This method was used for quantitative determination of TH in raw materials and tablets. Mean recovery and precision were, respectively, 100.41 and 101.18% (CV = 1.64%, n = 9) for TH tablets. There were no significant differences between the proposed methods and a previously described high-performance liquid chromatographic method. The UV spectrophotometric and titrimetric methods are potentially useful for a routine laboratory because of their simplicity, rapidity, and accuracy.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic method for fexofenadine hydrochloride in capsules

This paper describes the development and validation of a new, simple, fast, and sensitive liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the antihistamine fexofenadine. Although widely used in the treatment of allergic diseases, fexofenadine is not listed in any pharmacopeia, and there are few methods in the literature for its quantitation in pharmaceutical dosage forms. In this work, a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 (250 x 4.0 mm, 5 microm) column was used as the stationary phase, and acetonitrile-5mM ammonium acetate buffer (50 + 50, v/v) at pH 3.2 was the mobile phase. Through the evaluation of the analytical parameters, it was shown that the method is linear (r = 0.9999) at concentrations ranging from 20.0 to 80.0 microg/mL, precise (intraday relative standard deviation [RSD] values = 0.85, 0.40, and 0.81%; interday RSD = 0.77%), accurate (mean recovery = 99.05%), specific, and robust. The detection and quantitation limits are 0.3409 and 1.033 microg/mL, respectively. These low values show the good sensitivity of the proposed method.     

Stability and degradation products of imipenem applying high‐resolution mass spectrometry: An analytical study focused on solutions for infusion

Carbapenems show recognized instability in aqueous solutions; therefore some care must be taken in their handling and preparation and their use in the hospital environment. The stability and degradation products of imipenem were investigated from conditions that simulate its clinical use. For this, a simple stability‐indicating method by HPLC‐DAD was validated with a focus on the quantitation of drug concentration remaining from infusion solutions (sodium chloride 0.9% and glucose 5%). The degradation products formed were identified by high‐resolution mass spectrometry (ESI‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS), with detection of the [M + H]⁺ ions at m/z 318 (DP‐1), m/z 599 (DP‐2) and m/z 658 (DP‐3). The most probable elemental compositions were obtained with a high degree of confidence, where the error between the masses observed and calculated was 1.25 ppm for DP‐1, ?0.33 ppm for DP‐2 and 1.82 ppm for DP‐3. The DP‐1 degradation product resulted from cleavage of the β‐lactam ring; DP‐2 corresponded to the drug dimer; and DP‐3 was generated from the interaction between imipenem and cilastatin. The proposed method provides a safe and reliable alternative for the quantitation of imipenem, and the stability data obtained by ESI‐Q‐TOF help in understanding the drug behavior under the conditions of clinical use.