Development and validation of a HPLC method for 4,7-phenanthroline-5,6-dione I and identification of its major impurity by HPLC-MS-APCI

In this study, the development and validation of an analytical method for the assay of 4,7-phenanthroline-5,6-dione I (dione I) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the determination of its synthetic impurities by employing the method in HPLC-mass spectrometry with atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization and photodiode-array UV detection is reported. The results show that dione I is eluted as a spectrally pure peak resolved from its impurities. 5-Bromo,4-7-phenanthroline is identified as the main impurity. This is supported by elemental analysis of the dione I, which demonstrated the presence of bromine. Validation parameters such as specificity and selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), ruggedness, stability, and system suitability, which are evaluated for this method. The LOD and LOQ are 2.0 microg/mL and 50 microg/mL with a 0.50% relative standard deviation (%RSD), respectively. The calibration curves showed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.05-1.50 mg/mL. The correlation coefficient is > 0.9991 in each case. The %RSD values for intra- and interday precision studies are < 0.40%.     

The importance of impurity analysis in pharmaceutical products: an integrated approach

To purify a material and remove the excess impurities one should first recognize that whether they are actually present and what their nature is. In the past, this was not always done. But presently drug analysis and pharmaceutical impurities are the subjects of constant review in the public interest. The International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines achieved a great deal in harmonizing the definitions of the impurities in new drug substances. It is necessary to perform all the investigations on appropriate reference standards of drug and impurities to get meaningful specifications. In order to meet the challenges to ensure high degree of purity of drug substances and drug products, a scheme is proposed for profiling drug impurity. Finally, analytical methods based on analytical instrumentation must be employed to quantitate drug substance and its impurities. Important aspects and suggestions related to drug analysis and pharmaceutical impurities are discussed.     

Development and validation of a reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatographic method for assay of lacidipine and related substances

A simple isocratic, RP-ultra-performance LC method was developed and validated for the determination of lacidipine, three process impurities formed during synthesis, and three degradation products present in drug substance and the drug product. An efficient chromatographic separation was achieved on an Acquity BEH C18 column using pH 4.5 ammonium acetate-acetic acid buffer-methanol (70 + 30, v/v) mobile phase. The monitoring wavelength was 240 nm, and the flow rate 0.25 mL/min. Forced degradation studies using acid, alkali, peroxide, water, heat, and light were conducted, and all impurities were separated. The method was validated successfully for specificity, precision, linearity, accuracy, LOD, LOQ, and robustness, according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The linearity of the calibration curve for lacidipine and each impurity was found to be very good (r2 > 0.999). This method is shown to be suitable for analysis of lacidipine to evaluate the quality of drug substance and a drug product.     

RP-ZrO2 Stationary Phase as an Alternative to Separate of Doxazosin Impurities

Degradation products and related compounds occurring in drugs as impurities have often very similar properties as the parent substance. Therefore new analytical separation methods which show appropriate selectivity are required. Apart from improvements on silica-based reversed phases the attention has also been focused on other materials such as modified inorganic supports. In this study a polystyrene-coated zirconia was examined as an alternative in analysis of parent drug (doxazosin) and its impurities. Doxazosin and its five pharmacopoeial impurities were separated within 16 min. The suitability of the developed method was verified and confirmed by means of linearity, precision, inter-day precision, robustness and determination of LOD as well as LOQ. The results proved the potential of zirconia-based stationary phases to be useful alternatives in the field of drug analysis.     

A novel validated LC method for quantitation of lopinavir in bulk drug and pharmaceutical formulation in the presence of its potential impurities and degradation products

A simple isocratic liquid chromatographic method was developed for determination of lopinavir from its related impurities and assay for the first time. This method involves the use of a C(8) (Symmetry Shield RP8, 150 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) column. The method was validated over the range of limit of quantitation (LOQ) to 120% of impurity specification limit and LOQ to 150% of working concentration for assay. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 50 mM of potassium phosphate buffer, acetonitrile and methanol in the ratio of 40:50:10. The flow rate was set at 1.0 mL/min with UV detection monitored at 210 nm. The drug was subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. The developed method was validated for linearity, range, precision, accuracy and specificity. This method was successfully applied for content determination of lopinavir in pharmaceutical formulations. The method can be conveniently used in a quality control laboratory for routine analysis for assay and related substances as well for the evaluation of stability samples of bulk drugs and pharmaceutical formulations.     

Synthesis,characterization and control of eight process-related and two genotoxic fingolimod impurities by a validated RP-UPLC method

An HPLC method has been described in the European Pharmacopoeia and United States Pharmacopeia for the determination of nine organic impurities (imp A–I) in fingolimod hydrochloride, a synthetic sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator. The manufacturing process of fingolimod hydrochloride consists of multistep chemical synthesis wherein controls of precursors, intermediates and process steps should be performed to assure the final quality of the drug substance. We synthesized and isolated eight process-related impurities (FINI imp A–H) of fingolimod, which were different from the pharmacopoeial impurities. One unknown process-related impurity was found as a key intermediate (FINI) and was identified by LC–MS. Characterization of all of the impurities were done using spectroscopic techniques (¹H and ¹³C NMR, FTIR, MS), and the mechanistic pathways to the formation of these impurities were also discussed. Two of these impurities were evaluated as potential genotoxic impurities owing to their alerting structures and alkylating properties (alkyl sulfonates and alkyl halides, class 3, ICH M7). We also developed and validated an RP-UPLC method in line with ICH Q2 guidelines for control these impurities (FINI imp A–H) and to assure the pharmacopoeial quality drug substance.     

Development and validation of an UPLC method for rapid determination of ibuprofen and diphenhydramine citrate in the presence of impurities in combined dosage form

A novel, stability-indicating gradient reverse-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of ibuprofen and diphenhydramine citrate in the presence of degradation products and process related impurities in combined dosage form. The method was developed using C18 column with mobile phase containing a gradient mixture of solvent A and B. The eluted compounds were monitored at 220 nm. Ibuprofen and diphenhydramine citrate were subjected to the stress conditions of oxidative, acid, base, hydrolytic, thermal, and photolytic degradation. Major unknown impurity formed under oxidative degradation was identified using LC-MS-MS study. The developed method was validated as per ICH guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, accuracy, precision and robustness. The described method was linear over the range of 0.20-6.00 μg/mL (r>0.998) for Ibuprofen and 0.084-1.14 μg/mL for diphenhydramine citrate (r>0.998). The limit of detection results were ranged from 0.200-0.320 μg/mL for ibuprofen impurities and 0.084-0.099 μg/mL for diphenhydramine citrate impurities. The limit of quantitation results were ranged from 0.440 to 0.880 μg/mL for ibuprofen impurities and 0.258 to 0.372 μg/mL for diphenhydramine citrate impurities. The recovery of ibuprofen impurities were ranged from 98.1% to 100.5% and the recovery of diphenhydramine citrate impurities were ranged from 97.5% to 102.1%. This method is also suitable for the simultaneous assay determination of ibuprofen and diphenhydramine citrate in pharmaceutical dosage forms.     

Development and Validation for Quantification of 7-Nitroso Impurity in Sitagliptin by Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography with Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

The purpose of this research study was to develop an analytical method for the quantification of 7-nitroso-3-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-[1,2,4] triazolo [4,3-a] pyrazine (7-nitroso impurity), which is a potential genotoxic impurity. Since sitagliptin is an anti-diabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and the duration of the treatment is long-term, the content of nitroso impurity must be controlled by using suitable techniques. To quantify this impurity, a highly sensitive and reproducible ultraperformance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed. The analysis was performed on a Kromasil-100, with a C18 column (100 mm × 4.6 mm with a particle size of 3.5 µm) at an oven temperature of approximately 40 °C. The mobile phase was composed of 0.12% formic acid in water, with methanol as mobile phases A and B, and the flow rate was set to 0.6 mL/min. The method was validated according to the current International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines with respect to acceptable limits, specificity, reproducibility, accuracy, linearity, precision, ruggedness and robustness. This method is useful for the detection of the impurity at the lowest limit of detection (LOD), which was 0.002 ppm, and the lowest limit of quantification (LOQ), which was 0.005 ppm. This method was linear in the range of 0.005 to 0.06 ppm and the square of the correlation coefficient (R²) was determined to be > 0.99. This method could help to determine the impurity in the regular analysis of sitagliptin drug substances and drug products.     

Analytical Method Development for 19 Alkyl Halides as Potential Genotoxic Impurities by Analytical Quality by Design

Major issues in the pharmaceutical industry involve efficient risk management and control strategies of potential genotoxic impurities (PGIs). As a result, the development of an appropriate method to control these impurities is required. An optimally sensitive and simultaneous analytical method using gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector (GC–MS) was developed for 19 alkyl halides determined to be PGIs. These 19 alkyl halides were selected from 144 alkyl halides through an in silico study utilizing quantitative structure–activity relationship (Q-SAR) approaches via expert knowledge rule-based software and statistical-based software. The analytical quality by design (QbD) approach was adopted for the development of a sensitive and robust analytical method for PGIs. A limited number of literature studies have reviewed the analytical QbD approach in the PGI method development using GC–MS as the analytical instrument. A GC equipped with a single quadrupole mass spectrometry detector (MSD) and VF-624 ms capillary column was used. The developed method was validated in terms of specificity, the limit of detection, quantitation, linearity, accuracy, and precision, according to the ICH Q2 guideline.     

Interlaboratory method validation of capillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) methodology for analysis of mAbs

Capillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) is an analytical method to assess the purity of proteins, commonly applied to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the biopharmaceutical industry. To address the need to standardize the CE-SDS method in the pharmaceutical industry and to enhance the confidence in method transfer between laboratories operating different commercial capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument platforms, an interlaboratory CE-SDS method validation was organized involving 13 laboratories in 13 companies on four different types of commercial capillary electrophoresis instruments. In the validation, a commercial mAb therapeutic was used as the sample. The validation process followed the analytical guidelines set by the ICH guidelines (International Conference for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use). The method's precision, accuracy, linearity and range, and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were validated in the study. Variations of all the parameters validated in the study passed the pre-set criteria defined at the beginning of the study. The definition was based on previously published works and the intended application purpose of the CE-SDS method for mAbs. The study proved that the CE-SDS method fits its intended application purpose as a size impurity assay and size heterogeneity characterization assay for mAb therapeutic products. This study is the first time a CE-SDS method is validated by multiple laboratories using different commercial CE instrument platforms and on a commercial mAb therapeutic. Its results will enhance the confidence of the biopharmaceutical industry to develop CE-SDS methods and transfer CE-SDS methods between different laboratories.     

Capillary electrophoresis for the characterization of the complex dendrimeric contrast agent Gadomer

A CE method for the characterization of the complex dendrimeric contrast agent Gadomer has been developed and validated. The method was capable of separating the target substance Gadomer 24 from related dendrimers containing amino or carboxyl functions and from impurities of lower molecular weight. The compounds were separated in a fused-silica capillary. The optimized BGE consisted of 15 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.3, containing 0.5 mM hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The assay was validated with regard to linearity, specificity, accuracy, LOD and LOQ as well as robustness according to the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization. The method allows the determination of the purity and stability of the drug substance Gadomer as well as its injectable formulation. On the basis of the present study, a strategy for the quality assurance and quality control of the complex dendrimeric drug candidate Gadomer may be devised. The method may therefore serve as a key component in a set of analytical methodologies designed to assure and control the reproducible quality and safety of this innovative product. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work reporting a validated method for the characterization, impurity profiling, and stability testing of a dendrimeric agent designed for clinical use.     

Development and validation of a capillary electrophoresis method with ultraviolet detection for the determination of the related substances in a pharmaceutical compound

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was successfully developed to quantify the impurity profile of a new substance of pharmacological interest: LAS 35917. CE method was developed in order to separate the chloromethylated, monomethylated and hydroxylated impurities (molecules with very similar chemical structures) having the three coelution in the reversed-phase LC method initially established. Taking into account the structure of the impurities of LAS 35917, separation by conventional liquid chromatography (LC) methods would be longer and tedious than separation by CE, which is an appropriate and versatile technique giving easier and quicker methods. Among the three potential impurities mentioned of LAS 35917, two are due to the synthesis route of this drug, and the third arises from degradation. These drug-related impurities were separated using a capillary of 56 cm of effective length and 50 microm I.D., a 60 mM tetraborate buffer, at pH 9.2, and a positive voltage of 20 kV. The optimised CE method was preliminary validated with regard to specificity, linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, repeatability and solution stability. The method allows the detection and quantitation of impurities above 0.04 and 0.08% level, respectively. All three related substances were separated, detected and quantified from their parent drug in the analysis of real samples of LAS 35917, stressed or not stressed, with this simple and fast CE method.     

Development of a simple and stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for determining olanzapine and related impurities generated in the preparative process

A simple and stability-indicating reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of olanzapine (OLN) and related impurities in bulk drugs. Eight impurities were characterized respectively, and particularly a new process impurity from OLN synthesis was structurally confirmed as 1-(5-methylthionphen-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-2(3H)-one (Imp-7) by X-ray single crystal diffraction, MS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and HSQC. A mechanism of formation pathway for Imp-7 was proposed. Optimum separation for OLN and eight related impurities was carried out on an Agilent Octyldecyl silica column (TC-C(18), 4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) using a gradient HPLC method. The method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD and LOQ. Regression analysis showed good correlation (r(2) > 0.9985) between the investigated component concentrations and their peak areas within the test ranges for OLN and eight impurities. The repeatability and intermediate precision, expressed as RSD, were less than 1.74%. The proposed stability-indicating method was suitable for routine quality control and drug analysis of OLN in bulk drugs.     

Development of an orthogonal method for mometasone furoate impurity analysis using supercritical fluid chromatography

While supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has received great popularity in chiral separation and purification, it has rarely been used for trace level pharmaceutical impurity analysis, partially due to the limitation of instrument sensitivity. In this study, a packed column SFC method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of mometasone furoate and its trace level impurities. The UV detection was optimized to improve the sensitivity by 2-4 fold. In combination with an increased sample concentration, this SFC method is capable of trace level (0.05% of the active) analysis of the impurities. The SFC method used a silica column and a mobile phase consisting of CO(2) and methanol. The new method provides an orthogonal selectivity complementary to the reversed phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method. All of the impurities and the active were baseline separated within 12 min on SFC, which is less than one third of the RP-HPLC method run time. The method was also partially validated for linearity, accuracy, precision (repeatability), and limit of quantitation. This study demonstrated that the SFC method, with improved sensitivity, can be a valuable tool to provide orthogonal selectivity for trace level impurity separation. With further validation, the method may be suitable for release testing and stability testing for mometasone furoate drug substance.     

Separation and identification of moxifloxacin impurities in drug substance by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

In this paper,a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(HPLC-UV/FTICRMS) method was described for the investigation of impurity profile in moxifloxacin (MOX) drug substance and chemical reference substance.Ten impurities were detected by HPLC-UV,while eight impurities were identified by using the high accurate molecular mass combined with multiple-stage mass spectrometric data and fragmentation rules.In addition,to our knowledge,five impurities were founded for the first time in MOX drug substance.     

Validation assay for total flavonoids, as rutin equivalents, from Trichilia catigua Adr. Juss (Meliaceae) and Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae) commercial extract

An ultraviolet spectrophotometric method was validated for total flavonoid quantitation, as rutin equivalents, present in the Trichilia catigua Adr. Juss (Meliaceae) and Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae) commercial extract. Parameters as linearity, interval (range), specificity, estimated limit of detection (LOD, microg/mL), estimated limit of quantitation (LOQ, microg/mL), recovery (R, %), precision or relative standard deviation (RSD, %), and accuracy (E, %) were established. The analytical method was validated according to the experimental results: correlation coefficient (r = 0.9997); interval (RSD = 0.15-0.47%; E = 98.98-101.24%); specificity to total flavonoids quantitation, as rutin equivalents, at wavelength 361.0 nm; LOD = 0.09 microg/mL and LOQ = 0.27 microg/mL; R = 99.36-102.14%; adequate intra- and interrun precision (0.30-0.49% and 0.31-0.81%), and intra- and interrun accuracy (100.60-102.38% and 98.58-100.38%).     

Development and validation of a capillary zone electrophoretic method for the determination of bisphosphonate and phosphonate impurities in clodronate

Capillary zone electrophoresis with direct UV detection at low wavelength and reversed polarity was applied for the separation and quantitation of bisphosphonate and phosphonate impurities in clodronate bulk material. Polyacrylamide-coated capillaries were used to reduce the interactions between the analytes and the electric double layer of the capillary, and to minimize electroosmotic flow. Study was made of the major factors affecting the separation, i.e., pH and ionic strength of the electrolyte solution and various instrumental parameters. The developed method provided reproducible separations of clodronate and related impurities (between-day precision of migration times: RSD < 2.3%, 275 runs). Acceptable validation results in the impurity quantitation range of 0.5-7.5 microg ml(-1) (corresponding to 0.1-1.5% of clodronate working concentration) were obtained in specificity, within-day and between-day precision, accuracy and linearity.     

Stress Degradation Studies on Aripiprazole and Development of a Validated Stability Indicating LC Method

The present paper describes the development of a stability indicating reversed phase column liquid chromatographic method for aripiprazole in the presence of its impurities and degradation products generated from forced decomposition studies. The drug substance was subjected to stress conditions of aqueous hydrolysis, oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress degradation. The degradation of aripiprazole was observed under acid hydrolysis and peroxide. The drug was found to be stable to other stress conditions attempted. Successful separation of the drug from the synthetic impurities and degradation products formed under stress conditions was achieved on an Inertsil phenyl column using a mixture of 0.2% trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile (55:45, v/v). The developed LC method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, specificity and robustness. The assay method was found linear in the range of 25–200 μg mL^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999 and the linearity of the impurities were established from LOQ to 0.3%. Recoveries of the assay and impurities were found between 97.2 and 104.6%. The developed LC method for the related substances and assay determination of aripiprazole can be used to evaluate the quality of regular production samples. It can also be used to test the stability samples of aripiprazole. To the best of our knowledge, the validated stability indicating LC method which separates all the impurities disclosed in this investigation was not published elsewhere.     

Development and validation of stability indicating analytical method for Ilaprazole

The objective of the present study was to develop and validate a rapid and simple stability indicating analytical method for estimating Ilaprazole. Ilaprazole was subjected to different stress conditions prescribed by International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) such as hydrolysis, oxidation, photolytic and dry heat degradation conditions. The drug was very susceptible to degradation under hydrolysis and photolytic conditions, less susceptible to oxidation and stable under dry heat degradation condition. An acceptable separation of drug and its degradants was achieved by using a C-18 column and mobile phase composed of ammonium acetate buffer (pH 3.2)—acetonitrile (55: 45, v/v). Flow rate was 1 mL/min and detection wavelength was set at 303 nm. Retention time of drug was found to be 6.6 min and analysis can be completed within 10 min. The method was validated with respect to linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, LOD and LOQ as per ICH. The method was linear (R² = 0.996) in the range of 2.5–250 μg/mL. The recovery was in the range from 99.2–100.2%.