Micellar electrokinetic chromatography for the simultaneous determination of ketorolac tromethamine and its impurities. Multivariate optimization and validation

A simple, fast and selective micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (MEKC) method for the simultaneous assay of ketorolac tromethamine and its known related impurities (1-hydroxy analog of ketorolac, 1-keto analog of ketorolac and decarboxylated ketorolac), in both drug substance and coated tablets, is described. The compounds were detected at 323 nm, and flufenamic acid (FL) and tolmetin (TL) were chosen as internal standards to quantify ketorolac tromethamine and impurities, respectively. The multivariate optimization of the experimental conditions was carried out by means of the response surface study, considering as responses the resolution values and analysis time. The optimized background electrolyte (BGE) consisted of a mixture of 13 mM boric acid and phosphoric acid, adjusted to pH 9.1 with 1 M sodium hydroxide, containing 73 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Optimal temperature and voltage were 30 degrees C and 27 kV. Applying these conditions, all compounds were resolved in about 6 min. The related substances could be quantified up to the 0.1% (w/w) level. Validation was performed, either for drug substances and drug product, evaluating selectivity, robustness, linearity and range, precision, accuracy, detection and quantitation limits and system suitability.     

Mixture design in the optimization of a microemulsion system for the electrokinetic chromatographic determination of ketorolac and its impurities: method development and validation

Microemulsion EKC (MEEKC) was used for the determination of ketorolac and its three impurities. The microemulsion system was optimized, for the first time in the literature, using a multivariate strategy involving a mixture design. A 13-run experimental plan covering an experimental domain defined by the components aqueous phase (10 mM borate buffer pH 9.2), oil phase (n-heptane) and surfactant/cosurfactant (SDS/n-butanol) was carried out. Good results were obtained with all microemulsions tested considering as responses analysis time and resolution, and according to the desirability function the best microemulsion system was constituted by 90.0% 10 mM borate buffer, 2.0% n-heptane, 8.0% of SDS/n-butanol in 1:2 ratio. Finally, with the aim of reducing analysis time, a response surface study was carried out in the experimental domain defined by the process variables temperature and voltage and the best values were 17 degrees C and -17 kV, respectively. Applying the optimised conditions, a complete resolution among the analytes was obtained in about 3 min using the short-end injection method. The method was validated for both drug substances and drug product and was applied to the quality control of ketorolac in coated tablets. A comparison of MEEKC, MEKC and CEC for assaying ketorolac and its related substances has been made.     

Reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography for the simultaneous determination of acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, and caffeine in analgesic tablets

The separation and simultaneous determination of caffeine, paracetamol, and acetylsalicylic acid in two analgesic tablet formulations was investigated by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effect of mobile phase composition on the separation and peak efficiency of the three analytes was studied and evaluated; in particular, the influence of buffer type, buffer pH, and acetonitrile content of the mobile phase was investigated. The analyses were carried out under optimized separation conditions, using a full-packed silica capillary (75 microm ID; 30.0 cm and 21.5 cm total and effective lengths, respectively) with a 5 microm C8 stationary phase. A mixture of 25 mM ammonium formate at pH 3.0 and acetonitrile (30:70 v/v) was used as the mobile phase. UV detection was at 210 nm. Good linearity was found in the range of 50-200, 20-160, and 4-20 microg/mL for acetylsalicylic acid (r2=0.9988), paracetamol (r2=0.9990) and caffeine (r2=0.9990), respectively. Intermediate precision (RSD interday) as low as 0.1-0.8% was found for retention times, while the RSD values for the peak area ratios (Aanalyte/AIS) were in the range of 1.9-2.9%. The optimized CEC method was applied to the analysis of the studied compounds present in commercial tablets.     

CEC separation of insect oostatic peptides using a strong-cation-exchange stationary phase

The separation of several insect oostatic peptides (IOPs) was achieved by using CEC with a strong-cation-exchange (SCX) stationary phase in the fused-silica capillary column of 75 microm id. The effect of organic modifier, ionic strength, buffer pH, applied voltage, and temperature on peptides' resolution was evaluated. Baseline separation of the studied IOPs was achieved using a mobile phase containing 100 mM pH 2.3 sodium phosphate buffer/water/ACN (10:20:70 v/v/v). In order to reduce the analysis time, experiments were performed in the short side mode where the stationary phase was packed for 7 cm only. The selection of the experimental parameters strongly influenced the retention time, resolution, and retention factor. An acidic pH was selected in order to positively charge the analyzed peptides, the pI's of which are about 3 in water buffer solutions. A good selectivity and resolution was achieved at pH <2.8; at higher pH the three parameters decreased due to reduced or even zero charge of peptides. The increase in the ionic strength of the buffer present in the mobile phase caused a decrease in retention factor for all the studied compounds due to the decreased interaction between analytes and stationary phase. Raising the ACN concentration in the mobile phase in the range 40-80% v/v caused an increase in both retention factor, retention time, and resolution due to the hydrophilic interactions of IOPs with free silanols and sulfonic groups of the stationary phase.     

Separation of structurally related estrogens using isocratic elution pressurized capillary electrochromatography

In this paper, the pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) with UV detection was utilized for the separation and determination of three structurally related estrogens, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES), hexestrol (HEX) and dienestrol (DE), which were difficult to be separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) and HPLC due to their similarity in the structure and charge-to-mass ratios. Experiments were carried out in a commercially available pCEC instrument using a capillary column packed with 3 microm octadecyl silica (ODS). Surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was introduced in the mobile phase to enhance the speed of analysis. The effective factors on the retention time and separation resolution, such as the applied voltage, supplementary pressure, the pH and the concentration of the buffer solution, the concentration of SDS, and the content of acetonitrile in the mobile phase, were evaluated. Based on the investigation, 31% (v/v) acetonitrile and 69% (v/v) of 10 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) containing 1.0 mmol/L SDS at an applied voltage of -12 kV and a supplementary pressure of 1000 psi were found to be the optimal conditions for pCEC to separate the three estrogens. The method also had been applied to the analysis of fish muscle samples spiked with estrogens.     

Determination of 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine derivatives of isocyanates at low concentrations by temperature-programmed miniaturized liquid chromatography

A temperature-programmed packed capillary LC method with large-volume injection on-column focusing has been developed for screening and determination of 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine derivatives of airborne toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, toluene-2,6-diisocyanate, hexamethylenediisocyanate and methylenebisphenyl-4,4-diisocyanate, based on sampling methods described in MDHS 25/3. Injection volumes up to 100 microl were successfully loaded onto the 250x0.32 mm I.D. capillary column packed with 3 microm Hypersil ODS particles. The isocyanate derivatives were loaded at 10 degrees C and eluted by a three-step temperature program starting at 10 degrees C for 10 min, followed by a temperature ramp of 2.5 degrees C min(-1) to 45 degrees C and then 9.9 degrees C min(-1) to 90 degrees C. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-acetate buffer (3% triethylamine, pH 4.5) (45:55, v/v). The isocyanate derivatives were dissolved in acetonitrile-acetate buffer (3% triethylamine, pH 4.5) (30:70, v/v) to achieve sufficient focusing. The concentration limit of detection of the individual derivatives utilizing an "U" shaped flow cell with a 8.0 mm light path and an injection volume of 100 microl was 44, 87, 43 and 210 pg ml(-1) for toluene-2,6-diisocyanate, hexamethylenediisocyanate, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate and methylenebisphenyl-4,4-diisocyanate, respectively. Within the investigated concentration range, 10-500 ng ml(-1), the linear calibration curves gave correlation coefficients ranging from 0.994 to 0.998. The repeatability of the method with regard to retention time and peak height ranged from 0.3 to 1.1% and 1.1 to 2.3% (n=9) relative standard deviation, respectively. The average recovery of the method, with regard to toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, was 97.7+/-1.6% (n=9).     

Development of a green chromatographic method for determination of fat-soluble vitamins in food and pharmaceutical supplement

A green chromatographic analytical method for determination of fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, D3 and K1) in food and pharmaceutical supplement samples is proposed. The method is based on the modification of a C18 column with a 3.00% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) aqueous solution at pH 7 (0.02 mol L(-1) phosphate buffer solution) and in the usage of the same surfactant solution as mobile phase with the presence of 15.0% (v/v) butyl alcohol as an organic solvent modifier. After the separation process, the vitamins are detected at 230 nm (K1, D3 and E), 280 nm (A, E, D3 and K1) and 300 nm (K1, D3 and E). The chromatographic procedure yielded precise results (better than 5%) and is able to run one sample in 25 min, consuming 1.5 g of SDS, 90 mg of phosphate and 7.5 mL of butyl alcohol. When the flow rate of the mobile phase is 2 mL min(-1) the retention times are 4.0, 9.6, 13.0 and 22.7 min for D3, A, E and K1 vitamins, respectively; and all peak resolutions are higher than 2. The analytical curves present the following linear equations: area=6290+34852 (vitamin A), R2=0.9998; area=4092+36333 (vitamin E), R2=0.9997; area=-794+30382 (vitamin D3) R2=0.9998 and area=-7175+82621 (vitamin K1), R2=0.9996. The limits of detection and quantification for vitamins A, E, D(3) and K(1) were estimated for a test pharmaceutical vitamin supplement sample as 0.81, 1.12, 0.91 and 0.83 mg L(-1) and 2.43, 3.36, 2.73 and 2.49, respectively. When the proposed method was applied to food and pharmaceutical sample analysis, precise results were obtained (R.S.D.<5% and n=3) and in agreement with those obtained by using the classical chromatographic method that uses methanol and acetonitrile as mobile phase. Here, the traditional usage of toxic organic solvent as mobile phase is avoided, which permits to classify the present method as green.     

Mesoporous polybutadiene-modified zirconia for high-temperature packed capillary liquid chromatography: column preparation and temperature programming stability

In the present study, three different methods for packing of 3 microm PBD-ZrO2 particles in 0.5 mm i.d. glass-lined stainless steel columns have been examined. The two first methods were based on a traditional downstream high-pressure technique using tetrachloromethane (Method I) or aqueous Triton X-100 (Method II) as slurry solvents, while Method III was an upstream high-pressure flocculating method with stirring, using isopropanol both as the slurry and packing solvent. Method I was found to be superior in terms of efficiency, producing 0.5 mm i.d. x 10 cm columns with almost 90,000 plates m(-1) for toluene (R.S.D. = 8.7%, n = 3), using a slurry concentration of 600 mg ml(-1), ACN-water (50:50 (v/v)) as the packing solvent and a packing pressure of 650 bars. For Method I, the slurry concentration, column i.d., column length and initial packing pressure were found to have a significant effect on column efficiency. Finally, the long-term temperature stability of the prepared columns was investigated. In isothermal mode, using ACN-20 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7 (50:50 (v/v)) as the mobile phase, the columns were found to be stable for at least 3,000 void volumes at 100 degrees C. At this temperature, the solute efficiencies changed about 5-18% and the retention factors changed about 6-8%. In temperature programming mode (not exceeding 100 degrees C), on the other hand, a rapid decrease in both column efficiency and retention factors was observed. However, when the columns were packed as initially described, ramped up and down from 50 to 100 degrees C for 48 h and refilled, fairly stable columns with acceptable efficiencies were obtained. Although not fully regaining their initial efficiency after refilling, the solute efficiencies changed about 19-28% (32-37%) and the retention factors changed about 4-5% (13-17%) after running 3,000 (25,000) void volumes or 500 (3,900) temperature programs.     

Use of vancomycin chiral stationary phase for the enantiomeric resolution of basic and acidic compounds by nano-liquid chromatography

In this paper we studied the potentiality of nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC) for the enantiomeric resolution of both basic and acidic compounds of pharmaceutical interest using a vancomycin modified silica stationary phase. Experiments were carried out in a fused silica capillary of 75 microm I.D. packed with chiral modified silica particles of 5 microm diameter, the detection, was done on-line at 195 nm. Enantiomeric resolution of alprenolol, atenolol, metoprolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, propranolol (basic compounds) and some acidic analytes, namely 2-[(5'-benzoyl-2'-hydroxy)phenyl]propionic acid (DF1738Y), 2-[(4'-benzoyloxy-2'-hydroxy)phenyl]propionic acid (DF1770Y), ketoprofen, indoprofen and suprofen was studied by nano-LC utilizing mobile phases containing methanol-acetonitrile-ammonium formate or acetate. The effect of mobile phase composition (buffer type and concentration, organic modifier type and concentration) on chiral resolution (Rs), retention factor (k) and retention time (tR) was also investigated. Good enantiomeric resolution was achieved for basic compounds utilizing the mobile phase containing 90% (MeCN-MeOH)/5% water/5% of 100 mM ammonium acetate pH 4.5. Acidic compounds such as DF1738Y and DF1770Y were better resolved at lower pH 3.5 while ketoprofen, indoprofen and suprofen exhibited the highest resolution at pH 4.5; in this case the mobile phase contained MeOH or MeCN (90%), 5% buffer and 5% of water. The nano-LC method was validated using R-(+)-propranolol as an internal standard finding good repeatability, detection limit, correlation coefficient and recovery and applied to the assay of a pharmaceutical formulation containing a racemic mixture of metoprolol.     

Analysis of selected withanolides in plant extract by capillary electrochromatography and microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) coupled with a diode-array detector was developed for the simultaneous analysis of natural steroidal compounds, withanolides including withaferin A, withacnistin and iochromolide. Optimal resolution was obtained with a microemulsion consisting of 70 mM octane, 800 mM 1-butanol, 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and 10 mM phosphate-borate buffer (pH 7) using a fused-silica capillary at 25 kV and 40 degrees C. Since this technique is not compatible with mass spectrometry detection, a capillary electrochromatographic method was developed to separate the investigated withanolides. The effects of mobile phase composition and pH were systematically investigated. Complete separation was obtained with a capillary electrochromatography (CEC) Hypersil C18 bonded silica column (packed length, 25 cmx100 microm ID and 375 microm OD), packed with 3 microm particles. The mobile phase consisted of formic acid-ammonia, pH 8 / acetonitrile (40/60 v/v); the voltage was set at 25 kV and the temperature at 20 degrees C. Under these conditions, resolution of these closely related compounds, including the critical pair withacnistin and iochromolide, was achieved in less than 5 min. The separations by MEEKC and CEC were compared with that obtained by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and showed similar retention order, indicating the analogy of the retention mechanism of these techniques. To further improve specificity and sensitivity, the developed CEC method was interfaced with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using a Teflon connection between the CEC column and a void fused-silica capillary. Finally, the described methods were applied to the qualitative analysis of withanolides in Iochroma gesnerioides plant extract.     

Analysis of phenolic compounds in extra virgin olive oil by using reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

In this work, the simultaneous separation of ten phenolic compounds (protocatechuic, p-coumaric, o-coumaric, vanillic, ferulic, caffeic, syringic acids, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and oleuropein) in extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) by isocratic RP CEC is proposed. A CEC method was optimized in order to completely resolve all the analyzed compounds by studying several experimental parameters. The influence of the stationary phase type (C(18) and C(8) modified silica gel), buffer concentration and pH as well as the organic modifier content of the mobile phase on retention factors, selectivity and efficiency were evaluated in details. A capillary column packed with Cogent bidentate C(18) particles for 23 cm and a mobile phase composed by 100 mM ammonium formate buffer pH 3/H(2)O/ACN (5:65:30 v/v/v) allowed the baseline resolution of the compounds under study in less than 35 min setting the applied voltage and temperature at 22 kV and 20 degrees C, respectively. A study, evaluating the intra- and interday precision as well as LOD and LOQ and method linearity was developed in accordance with the analytical procedures for method validation. LODs were in the range of 0.015-2.5 microg/mL, while calibration curves showed a good linearity (r(2) >0.997). The CEC method was applied to the separation and determination of these compounds in EVOO samples after a suitable liquid-liquid extraction procedure. The mean recovery values of the studied compounds ranged between 87 and 99%.     

Use of short-end injection capillary packed with a glycopeptide antibiotic stationary phase in electrochromatography and capillary liquid chromatography for the enantiomeric separation of hydroxy acids

A new chiral stationary phase (CSP) was prepared by reacting MDL 63,246 (Hepta-Tyr), a glycopeptide antibiotic belonging to the teicoplanin family, with 5-μm diol-silica particles. The CSP mixed with 5-μm amino silica particles (3:1) was packed into 75-μm fused-silica capillaries for only 6.6 cm and used for electrochromatographic experiments analyzing several hydroxy acid enantiomers. A reversed electroosmotic flow carried both analytes and mobile phase towards the anode in a short time (1–3 min), being baseline resolved all the studied analytes. In order to achieve the fastest enantiomeric resolution of the studied hydroxy acids, the effect of several experimental parameters such as mobile phase composition (organic modifier type and concentration, pH of the buffer and ionic strength), capillary temperature and applied voltage on enantioresolution factor, retention time, enantioselectivity were evaluated. The packed capillary column allowed the separation of mandelic acid enantiomers in less than 72 s with resolution factor R_s=2.18 applying a voltage of 30 kV and eluting with a mobile phase composed by 50 mM ammonium acetate (pH 6)–water–acetonitrile (1:4:5, v/v). The CSP was also tested in the capillary liquid chromatography mode resolving all the studied enantiomers applying 12 bar pressure to the mobile phase [50 mM ammonium acetate (pH 6)–water–methanol–acetonitrile, 1:4:2:3, v/v)], however, relatively long analysis times were observed (12–20 min).     

Enantiomeric separation of R,S-naproxen by conventional and nano-liquid chromatography with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin as a mobile phase additive

Chiral separations of R,S-naproxen mixtures were obtained on an achiral column (ODS) with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin as a mobile phase additive using conventional and nano-LC. The optimised mobile phase composition was 20 mmol l(-1) methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, 20% (v/v) acetonitrile, and 50 mmol l(-1) sodium acetate buffer at pH 3 using hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment. In addition to UV detection at 232 nm, amperometric detection was also investigated. Without using any internal standard, the reproducibility of amperometric detection (+1.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl) over a long analysis cycle in LC was greatly improved by choosing the peak area ratio between R- and S-naproxen as the analytical readout (the relative standard deviation was 2.11%) and enantiomeric purity could be assessed directly. This method was successfully employed for enantiomeric purity assessment in commercial naproxen tablets. Finally, successful transfer from conventional LC to nano-LC was realised, resulting in over 1000-fold reduction in reagent consumption.     

Simultaneous micellar liquid chromatographic analysis of seven water-soluble vitamins: optimization using super-modified simplex

A super-modified simplex (SMS) method has been used to optimize the mobile phase used for separation of seven water-soluble vitamins in multivitamin tablets by gradient micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 254, 295, and 361 nm. Effect of column temperature and addition of organic modifier to the mobile phase on separation efficiency were investigated: the appropriate conditions used were a temperature of 35 degrees C and 1-butanol modifier. The sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, pH, and 1-butanol% in the mobile phase were chosen for simultaneous optimization using the SMS method. The optimum mobile phase was found to be 16 mmol L(-1) (mM) SDS, 0.02 M phosphate buffer, pH 3.6, and a gradient of 3.5-10% (v/v) butanol. The total analysis time for vitamins was 75 min. The analytical parameters including linearity ( r>0.9970), limit of detection (0.12-50 micro g mL(-1)), precision of method (relative standard deviation (RSD) <8.90%), and accuracy obtained by the recovery assay (88-103%) support the usefulness of the proposed method for the determination of the water-soluble vitamins.     

Biological assay and liquid chromatographic method for analysis of moxifloxacin in tablets

A microbiological assay and a liquid chromatographic method were validated for quantitation of moxifloxacin in tablets. The microbiological method consisted of a cylinder-plate agar diffusion assay using Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 as the test microorganism and phosphate buffer (0.1M, pH 8.0) as the diluent solution. The response graphs for standard and sample solutions were linear (r = 0.9479), and no parallelism deviations were detected in the tested levels of concentration (4.0, 8.0, and 16.0 microg/mL). The interday precision was 2.73%. Recovery values were between 96.25 and 100.5%. The chromatographic analyses were performed using a Shim-pack CLC-ODS column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of (A) a mixture of phosphoric acid (0.17%, v/v) with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (0.05M) and acetonitrile (95 + 5, v/v) and (B) methanol (55 + 45, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.0. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, and detection was made at 294 nm. The method was linear in a range from 12.0 to 42 microg/mL (r = 0.9999), and the interday precision was 1.39%. Recovery ranged between 101.9 and 103.81%. Both validated methods were used to quantify the moxifloxacin content in tablets exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and similar results were obtained.     

Chromatographic methods for the separation of biocompatible iron chelators from their synthetic precursors and iron chelates

Chromatographic methods have been developed for the separation of the three novel biocompatible iron chelators pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH), salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (SIH), and pyridoxal 2-chlorobenzoyl hydrazone (o-108) from their synthetic precursors and iron chelates. The chromatographic analyses were achieved using analytical columns packed with 5 microm Nucleosil 120-5 C18. For the evaluation of all chelators in the presence of the synthetic precursors, EDTA was added to the mobile phase at a concentration of 2 mM. The best separation of PIH and its synthetic precursors was achieved using a mixture of phosphate buffer (0.01 M NaH2PO4, 5 mM 1-heptanesulfonic acid sodium salt; pH 3.0) and methanol (55:45, v/v). For separation of SIH and its synthetic precursors, the mobile phase was composed of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) and methanol (60:40, v/v). o-108 was analyzed employing a mixture of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), methanol, and acetonitrile (60:20:20, v/v/v). These mobile phases were slightly modified to separate each chelator from its iron chelate. Furthermore, a RP-TLC method has also been developed for fast separation of all compounds. The chromatographic methods described herein could be applied in the evaluation of purity and stability of these drug candidates.     

Routine high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ascorbic acid in foods using L-methionine for the pre-analysis sample stabilization

The possibility of use of phosphoric acid (0.2% v/v, pH 2.1) in the mobile phase and co-existing compounds present in foods as the dissolving agent for the pre-analysis sample stabilization were examined for the routine determination of ascorbic acid (AA) in foods by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ED). The applied potential was set at 400 mV versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. It was demonstrated that 0.2% v/v phosphoric acid was the useful mobile phase and l-methionine was the most effective dissolving agent for the pre-run sample stabilization of AA in foods after comparison with other amino acids and water-soluble vitamins. The proposed method was simple, rapid (retention time @ ca. 4 min), sensitive (detection limit: ca. 0.1 ng per injection (5 μl) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3), highly selective and reproducible (relative standard deviation (R.S.D.); 2.5% (n=7), between-day R.S.D.: 3.7% (5 days)). The calibration graph of AA was linear in the range of 0.1-12.5 ng per injection (5 μl). Recovery of AA was over 90% by the standard addition method. Relationship between structure of compounds and the stability of AA was also examined.     

Determination of vitamin B12 in multivitamin tablets by multimode high-performance liquid chromatography

Quantitative determination of vitamin B₁₂ in B-complex tablets was performed by using multimode high-performance liquid chromatography. The multivitamin tablets (B₁, B₆ and B₁₂) were sonicated for 30 min in methanol–water (50:50, v/v) and diluted to appropriated volume with the same solvent. The resulting solution was filtered and the filtrate was analysed on a phenylpropanolamine bonded silica column (15 cm×4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm). The optimized mobile phase was 30 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.00) containing 6% (v/v) acetonitrile at a flow-rate of 1 ml min⁻¹ and the detection was measured at 361 nm. The calibration graph prepared using standards was linear from 0.05 to 0.25 μg. The determination limit was 25 ng, the relative standard deviation was 0.47% and recovery from tablet solution was 100%. An analysis was completed in 5 min. The new method is simple, rapid and precise.     

Development and validation of liquid chromatographic and ultraviolet derivative spectrophotometric methods for determination of epinastine hydrochloride in coated tablets

High-performance liquid chromatographic (LC) and ultraviolet derivative spectrophotometric (UVD) methods were developed and validated for the quantitative determination of epinastine hydrochloride in coated tablets. LC was performed on a reversed-phase RP-18 column with a mobile phase composed of 0.3% triethylamine (pH adjusted to 4.0 with 10% orthophosphoric acid)-methanol (60 + 40, v/v). The first-order derivative method was performed at 243.8 nm using HCI and methanol as the solvent. The methods were validated according to U.S. Pharmacopoeia and International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The statistical analysis by Student's t-test showed no significant difference between the results obtained by the 2 methods. The proposed methods were found to be simple, rapid, precise, accurate, robust, and sensitive, allowing perfect interchange. The LC and UVD methods can be used in the routine quantitative determination of the epinastine hydrochloride in coated tablets.     

HPLC-Isocratic Study of the Separation and Determination of Phenolphthalein and Its Metabolite, Phenolphthalein-Glucuronic Acid, as Markers of Enterohepatic Circulation

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for separation and determination of phenolphthalein and its metabolite, phenolphthalein-glucuronide, using bromocresol purple as an internal standard is described. The method uses a mobile phase of 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.7)-methanol (52.5:47.5, v/v), a 3-μm reversed-phase C₁₈ column (50 × 4.6-mm i.d.), a flow rate of 1 ml/min, and UV detector wavelength of 230 nm. The most important variables that can affect the retention of these compounds (i.e., organic modifier concentration, buffer concentration, and pH) were systematically studied. Two different retention orders were observed, depending on buffer concentration and pH. The effects on retention of the addition of triethylamine or acetic acid to the mobile phase are also discussed. This method has been developed for future application to the determination of phenolphthalein and phenolphthalein-glucuronide in biological fluids such as plasma, bile, and urine of rats within a study involving a new model for enterohepatic recirculation and pharmacokinetics.