Simplex optimization and kinetic determination of nabumetone in pharmaceutical preparations by micellar—stabilized room temperature phosphorescence

The present method described the kinetic determination of nabumetone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, by means of micellar-stabilized room temperature phosphorescence (MS-RTP), using the stopped-flow mixing technique. This methodology enables us to determine analytes in complex matrices without the need for a tedious separation process, as well as greatly diminishes the time for the analysis.Firstly, chemical and instrumental variables affecting the rate of phosphorescent development and the intensity of the signal, were found using a simplex optimization procedure. As application, nabumetone was determined in commercial Spanish pharmaceutical preparations.With the proposed method, the maximum signal of phosphorescence appears in only 10 s once the sample has been prepared, and the maximum slope of the kinetic curve, corresponding with the maximum rate of the phosphorescence development, was measured at λ_ex = 271 nm and λ_em = 520 nm. The overall least-squares regression to find the straight line that fitted the experimental data, the detection limit, the repeatability and the standard deviation for replicate sample, were also determined.The proposed method was validated versus a HPLC method with satisfactoty results.