Development and validation of a stability‐indicating assay including the isolation and characterization of degradation products of metaxalone by LC‐MS

A stability‐indicating reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for the assay of metaxalone through forced degradation under acidic, alkaline, photo, oxidative and peroxide stress conditions. Separation of degradation products was accomplished on a reverse‐phase Phenomenex C₁₈ (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column thermostated at 25°C using 10 mM aqueous ammonium acetate: methanol (35:65 v/v) as mobile phase in an isocratic mode of elution. The eluents were detected at 275 nm by photo diode array detector and mass detectors connected in series. Two unknown base hydrolysis products of metaxalone were identified and characterized as (a) methyl 3‐(3,5‐dimethylphenoxy)‐2‐hydroxypropylcarbamate and (b) 1‐(3,5‐dimethylphenoxy)‐3‐aminopropan‐2‐ol by MS, ¹H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The method was validated as per International Conference on Harmonization guidelines and metaxalone was selectively determined in presence of its degradation impurities, demonstrating its stability‐indicating nature. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of the degradation behavior of dapagliflozin propanediol monohydrate and metformin hydrochloride by a stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method

A simple, selective, precise, rapid and accurate stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed and validated for the estimation of dapagliflozin and metformin in tablet dosage form. In this work, methanol–ethyl acetate–ammonium acetate (6:4:0.1, V/V) as the mobile phase and aluminum-backed TLC plates pre-coated with 250 µm layer of silica gel 60F₂₅₄ as the stationary phase were used for the estimation of dapagliflozin and metformin. The wavelength selected for detection was 220 nm. The linearity range was found to be 20–100 ng/spot (r² = 0.9985) for dapagliflozin and 500–2500 ng/spot (r² = 0.9984) for metformin. Validation of the developed method was performed as per the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. Stress testing of dapagliflozin and metformin was performed under acidic, alkaline, oxidative, photolytic and dry-heat degradation conditions. The chromatographic conditions successfully resolved dapagliflozin and metformin from their degradation products, formed under various stress conditions. From stress testing, dapagliflozin was found to be significantly degrading under acidic, alkaline, oxidative, photolytic and dry-heat degradation conditions, while metformin was found to be significantly degrading in acidic and alkaline degradation conditions and stable under oxidative, photolytic and dry-heat degradation conditions. Tablet dosage form of dapagliflozin and metformin was analyzed by the developed method.

     

Development of a stability indicating HPTLC method for the estimation of olanzapine in pharmaceutical dosage forms

We report herein an accurate, precise, and economical stability indicating high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method developed to assess the safety of olanzapine in pharmaceutical formulations. Olanzapine was subjected to forced degradation studies to assess the effect of environmental conditions on its stability. Stress conditions such as hydrolysis under acidic and alkaline environment, degradation and oxidation by heat, light and air were used to study the stability of olanzapine. Mobile phase comprising of toluene: methanol (5:5 v/v) and aluminum plate pre-coated with silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ as a stationary phase were used for the development of chromatogram by HPTLC technique. Densitometric analysis of olanzapine carried out at 297 ​nm gave sharp symmetrical peak with R_f value of 0.50 and a satisfactory baseline resolution for all components. The drug was found to undergo degradation under acidic, alkaline and oxidative conditions. A single distinct peak in acidic and alkaline media while two peaks obtained as a result of oxidative degradation were well resolved along with the parent drug. The degradation products and parent drug showed significantly different R_f values. The developed HPTLC method gave quick and reproducible results for the olanzapine content in the tablets. The mean recoveries were 100.75% which confirms accuracy of the proposed method. The method was further validated for specificity, ruggedness and robustness. Based on the results, it can be suggested that the developed HPTLC method is quite efficient in separating the olanzapine from its degradation products; hence it can be used by pharmaceutical industries and regulatory bodies for the routine analysis of olanzapine in various pharmaceutical dosage forms.     

Study of forced degradation behavior of idrocilamide and development of stability indicating LC method

The objective of this study was to report the stability profile of novel muscle relaxant drug idrocilamide (Idr) based on information obtained from forced degradation studies. The drug was subjected to acidic (1 M HCl) and alkaline (1 M NaOH) hydrolysis and oxidative decomposition (50% H₂O₂). The products formed under different stress conditions were investigated by LC. The LC method was fine tuned using the samples generated from forced degradation studies. Satisfactory resolution between peaks with the shortest possible analysis time was achieved on C₁₈ 5 μm column (Luna, Phenomenex, USA), with mobile phase methanol-acetonitrile-water-glacial acetic acid (25: 30: 44: 1, v: v: v: v), pumped at 1 mL/min flow rate. Quantification was achieved at 280 nm based on peak area, using DAD detector. The proposed LC method was utilized to investigate the accelerated oxidative degradation of Idr. Besides, Idr’s degradants were identified using IR and MS, and the possible degradation pathway was outlined. The proposed method was validated, and the forced degradation studies proved the stability indicating power of the method. The method was also applied to analyze commercial samples.     

Development of a validated liquid chromatographic method for quantification of sorafenib tosylate in the presence of stress‐induced degradation products and in biological matrix employing analytical quality by design approach

The current research work envisages an analytical quality by design‐enabled development of a simple, rapid, sensitive, specific, robust and cost‐effective stability‐indicating reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatographic method for determining stress‐induced forced‐degradation products of sorafenib tosylate (SFN). An Ishikawa fishbone diagram was constructed to embark upon analytical target profile and critical analytical attributes, i.e. peak area, theoretical plates, retention time and peak tailing. Factor screening using Taguchi orthogonal arrays and quality risk assessment studies carried out using failure mode effect analysis aided the selection of critical method parameters, i.e. mobile phase ratio and flow rate potentially affecting the chosen critical analytical attributes. Systematic optimization using response surface methodology of the chosen critical method parameters was carried out employing a two‐factor–three‐level–13‐run, face‐centered cubic design. A method operable design region was earmarked providing optimum method performance using numerical and graphical optimization. The optimum method employed a mobile phase composition consisting of acetonitrile and water (containing orthophosphoric acid, pH 4.1) at 65:35 v/v at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min with UV detection at 265 nm using a C₁₈ column. Response surface methodology validation studies confirmed good efficiency and sensitivity of the developed method for analysis of SFN in mobile phase as well as in human plasma matrix. The forced degradation studies were conducted under different recommended stress conditions as per ICH Q1A (R2). Mass spectroscopy studies showed that SFN degrades in strongly acidic, alkaline and oxidative hydrolytic conditions at elevated temperature, while the drug was per se found to be photostable. Oxidative hydrolysis using 30% H₂O₂ showed maximum degradation with products at retention times of 3.35, 3.65, 4.20 and 5.67 min. The absence of any significant change in the retention time of SFN and degradation products, formed under different stress conditions, ratified selectivity and specificity of the systematically developed method.     

Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatographic Method for Determination of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride and Study of Its Degradation Behavior

A simple and selective reversed-phase stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the determination of daclatasvir in drug substance and drug product. Daclatasvir was subjected to acidic, alkaline, oxidative, thermal and photo-degradation study. The LC method was based on isocratic elution of daclatasvir and its degradation products on a reversed-phase C₁₈ Hypersil column using a mobile phase consisting of phosphate buffer (10 mM, 1 mL triethylamine L^?1): acetonitrile (60:40 v/v) at a flow rate of 2 mL min^?1. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 312 nm. Linearity, accuracy, and precision were found to be acceptable over the concentration range of 0.75–120 μg mL^?1, with regression coefficient value of 0.9999, and with limit of detection and quantitation of 0.148 and 0.447 μg mL^?1, respectively. Peak purity was checked for principle drug and its alkali induced degradation product, and the pathway of alkaline hydrolysis of daclatasvir was suggested by LC/MS.     

Forced degradation studies of clobetasol 17‐propionate in methanol,propylene glycol,as bulk drug and cream formulations by RP‐HPLC

A rapid, simple, stability‐indicating forced degradation study of clobetasol 17‐propionate was conducted using RP‐HPLC. The method was used to analyze clobetasol 17‐propionate in methanol, propylene glycol, and a cream formulation. Isocratic elution of clobetasol and its degradation products was achieved using a Nova‐Pak® 4 μm C₁₈ 150 mm × 3.9 mm id cartridge column and a mobile phase of methanol: water (68:32 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.9 mL min^?1. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 239 nm. Nondegraded clobetasol was eluted at a retention time of 6.0 min. Clobetasol 17‐propionate was subjected to different stress conditions viz., acidic, basic, heat, oxidation, light, and neutral hydrolysis. The greatest degradation occurred under strong base and oxidative conditions. Strong base‐degraded clobetasol produced additional peaks at retention times of 1.8, 4.0, 5.0, and 8.0 min and clobetasol oxidation degradation peaks eluted at 2.2 and 24 min. Complete validation was performed for linearity, accuracy, and precision over the concentration range 0.15–15 μg mL^?1. All data were analyzed statistically and this RP‐HPLC method proved to be accurate, precise, linear, and stability indicating for the quantitation of clobetasol 17‐propionate in methanol, propylene glycol, and cream formulations.     

Stability-Indicating HPLC Method for the Determination of Metadoxine as Bulk Drug and in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

A sensitive and reproducible method is described for the quantitative determination of metadoxine in the presence of its degradation products. The method was based on high performance liquid chromatographic separation of the drug from its degradation products on the reversed phase, kromasil column [C₁₈ (5-micron, 25 cm × 4.6 mm, i.d.)] at ambient temperature using a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (50: 50, v/v). Flow rate was 1.0 mL min^?1 with an average operating pressure of 180 kg cm^?2 and t _R was found to be 2.85 ± 0.05 min. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 286 nm based on peak area with linear calibration curves at concentration range 10–100 μg mL^?1. This method has been successively applied to pharmaceutical formulation. No chromatographic interference from the tablet excipients was found. The method was validated in terms of precision, robustness, recovery and limits of detection and quantitation. Drug was subjected to acid, alkali and neutral hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat, wet heat treatment and photo and UV degradation. As the proposed method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as stability indicating one. Moreover, the proposed HPLC method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of the acidic, alkaline and oxidative degradation processes at different temperatures and their respective apparent pseudo first order rare constant, half-life and activation energy was calculated with the help of Arrhenius plot. In addition the pH-rate profile of degradation of metadoxine in constant ionic strength buffer solutions with in the pH range 2–11 was studied.     

Stability‐indicating HPTLC method for quantitative estimation of silybin in bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage form

In the present study a novel stability‐indicating high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for quantitative determination of silybin in bulk drug and nanoemulsion formulation has been developed and validated on silica using solvent chloroform–acetone–formic acid (9 : 2 : 1 v/v/v) (R_f of silybin 0.46 ± 0.05) in the absorbance mode at 296 nm. The method showed a good linear relationship (r² ± 0.999) in the concentration range 25–1500 ng per spot. It was found to be linear, accurate, precise, specific, robust and stability‐indicating and can be applied for quality control and standardization of several multi‐component hepatoprotective formulations as well as for stability testing of different dosage forms. The method proposed was also used to investigate the kinetics of acidic and alkaline degradation processes by quantification of drug at different temperature to calculate the activation energy and half‐life for silymarin degradation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

LC–MS/MS method for the characterization of the forced degradation products of Entecavir

A rapid, specific, and reliable isocratic LC–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the identification and characterization of the stressed degradation products of Entecavir (ETV). ETV, an antiviral drug, was subjected to hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline, and neutral), oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress, as per the international conference on harmonization specified conditions. The drug showed extensive degradation under oxidative and acid hydrolysis stress conditions. However, it was stable to thermal, acidic, neutral, and photolysis stress conditions. A total of five degradation products were observed and the chromatographic separation of the drug and its degradation products were achieved on a Waters Symmetry C₁₈ (250 mm × 4.6 mm, id, 5 μm) column using 20 mM ammonium acetate (pH 3)/acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) as a mobile phase. The degradation products were characterized by LC–MS/MS and its fragmentation pathways were proposed. The LC–MS method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision. No previous reports were found in the literature regarding the degradation behavior of ETV.     

HPLC–PDA identification and resolution of rufinamide forced degradation impurities: A congregated chemometric expedite optimization coupled with factorials and desirability

Rufinamide is used presently to treat Lenaux–Gastaut syndrome. A full factorial design and desirability approach was investigated for the optimization of hydrolytic stress via response surface curves (RSCs). The degradation impurities were identified and resolved using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) on the Qualisil® BDS C₈ column. Acetonitrile–water (29:71, v/v) was optimized for the mobile phase and used at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with detection at a wavelength of 230 nm. Rufinamide showed appreciable susceptibility to hydrolysis under acidic and alkaline stress, and substantial degradation in the neutral condition. It degraded much less under oxidative stress. Exposure towards thermal and photolytic stress conditions indicated appreciable stability. The developed method was subjected to validation as per the recommendations of the International Conference on Harmonization. The proposed method showed no influence from the excipients and the degradation products. As well as good precision and accuracy in determination, the method showed a linear response between 2 and 12 μg ml⁻¹. The method was extended for determination in a human plasma sample, which resulted in excellent recovery without interference from matrix effects. The combined use of desirability and design for the optimization of acidic and alkaline hydrolytic stress led to simple and rapid analysis.     

Forced Degradation Study to Develop and Validate Stability-Indicating RP-LC for Quantification of Ropinirole Hydrochloride in Its Modified Release Tablets

A forced degradation study on ropinirole hydrochloride in bulk and in its modified release tablets was conducted under the conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation and photolysis in order to develop an isocratic stability-indicating LC-UV method for quantification of the drug in tablets. An impurity peak in standard solution was found to increase under acidic and neutral hydrolytic conditions while another degradation product was formed under alkaline condition. The drug and its degradation products were optimally resolved on a Hypersil C₁₈ column with mobile phase composed of diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate (0.05 M; pH 7.2), tetrahydrofuran and methanol (80:15:5% v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 at 30 °C using 250 nm as detection wavelength. The method was linear in the range of 0.05–50 μg mL^?1 drug concentrations. The %RSD of inter- and intra-day precision studies was <1. The system suitability parameters remained unaffected during quantification of the drug on three different LC systems. Excellent recoveries (101.59–102.28%) proved that the method was sufficiently accurate. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.012 and 0.040 μg mL^?1, respectively. Degradation behaviour of the drug in both bulk and tablets was similar. The drug was very unstable to hydrolytic conditions but stable to oxidative and photolytic conditions. The method can be used for rapid and accurate quantification of ropinirole hydrochloride in tablets during stability testing. Based on chemical reactivity of ropinirole in different media, the degradation products were suspected to be different from the known impurities of the drug.     

Selective separation and characterization of the stress degradation products of ondansetron hydrochloride by liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Ondansetron hydrochloride was subjected to forced degradation studies under various conditions of hydrolysis (acidic, basic, and neutral), oxidation, photolysis, and thermal as prescribed by International Conference on Harmonisation guideline Q1A (R2). A simple, selective, precise, and accurate high‐performance liquid chromatography method was developed on a Waters Xterra C₁₈ (150 × 4.6 mm id, 3.5 μm) column using 10 mM ammonium formate (pH 3.0)/methanol as a mobile phase in gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The method was extended to liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry for identification and structural characterization of stress degradation products of ondansetron. The drug showed significant degradation in base hydrolytic and photolytic stress conditions in the liquid state, while it was found to be stable in neutral, acidic, thermal, and oxidative stress conditions. A total of five degradation products were characterized and most probable mechanisms for the formation of degradation products have been proposed on the basis of a comparison of the fragmentation of the [M + H]⁺ ions of the drug and its degradation products. Finally, the developed method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness as per International Conference on Harmonisation guideline Q2 (R1).     

Stress Degradation Studies of Anagliptin,Development of Validated Stability Indicating Method,Degradation Kinetics Study,Identification and Isolation of Degradation Products

A gradient-specific stability indicating HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of the antidiabetic agent anagliptin in laboratory mixtures. Reversed-phase chromatography was performed using a Shimadzu LC-20 AD pump (binary), Shimadzu PDA M-20A diode array detector, and Waters Symmetry C-18 column (150?×?4.6 mm, 3.5 µm) maintained at a column oven temperature of 40 °C with UV detection at 247 nm. A gradient program was run at flow rate of 1 mL min^?1. Mobile phase A consisted of a mixture of acetate buffer(10 mm) pH 5/methanol/acetonitrile in the ratio of 90:5:5. Mobile phase B consisted of a mixture of acetate buffer (10 mm) pH 5/methanol/acetonitrile in the ratio of 50:25:25. The method was validated according International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Linearity was observed in the concentration range of 10–120 µg/mL with regression coefficient r²(0.999). The LOD was found to be 7.8 µg/mL and LOQ was found to be 22.68 µg/mL. Anagliptin was subjected to stresses such as acidic, alkali, oxidation, photolysis, and thermal conditions. The proposed method was validated as per ICH guidelines and was found to be accurate, precise, and specific. The drug showed significant degradation in alkaline and oxidative conditions. Alkaline and oxidative degradation followed first-order kinetics. Degradation rate constant and half-lives were determined. Degradation products in alkaline and oxidative conditions were identified by LC–MS. One major degradation product was isolated from each condition by preparative HPLC. These degradation products were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, D₂O exchange, MS/MS, HRMS, and IR techniques. From the spectral data the alkaline degradation product was characterized as 1-{2-[1-(2-methylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxamido)-methyl-propan-2-yl-amino]acetyl}pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide. The oxidative degradation product was characterized as N-[2-({2-[(2S)-2-cyanopyrrolidin-1-yl]-2-oxoethyl}amino)-2-methylpropyl]-2-methylpyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidine-N-oxido-6-carboxamide.     

Stressed Kinetics of Nanoemulsion Formulation Encapsulated Ropinirole with a Validated Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Synapt Mass Spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS ESI‐Q‐TOF)

A highly sensitive ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC‐MSMS) method for estimation of ropinirole in rat brain homogenate and plasma has been validated. The method was successfully used for the degradation kinetics in different stress condition and regulated temperature. The chromatographic separation was achieved using isocratic mobile phase, consisting of acetonitrile–2mM ammoniumacetate (28:72 v/v; 0.25 mL min^?1). The mass spectrometer was operated in synapt mass spectrometry mode via positive electrospray ionization using the transitions m/z 260 → m/z 261 for ropinirole, and m/z 324.39 → m/z 262.161 as a parent ion of escitalopram (IS). The assay for ropinirole was linear over the range of 0.5–100 ng mL^?1 (r²; 0.999). The intra‐ and inter day precisions were less than 11.2% in terms of relative standard deviation (R.S.D.), and the accuracy was within ±6.4% in terms of relative error (RE). The mean extraction‐efficiency of QC samples (MQC, 8 ng/mL) was ≥80%. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.049 ng/mL where as lower limit of detection (LLOD) was 0.016 ng/mL. All the peaks of degradation were well resolved. The degradation kinetics of ropinirole, showed highest stability (t_1/2 256.66/h; t_0.9, 39.11/h) in acidic medium, lower stability in alkaline environment (t_1/2, 103.43/h; t_0.9, 15.76/h) and highly susceptible in oxidative environment (t_1/2, 21.58/h; t_0.9, 3.28/h). The applicability of this assay was demonstrated and successfully applied for pharmacokinetic profiling of ropinirole in Wister rat brain homogenate after intranasal administration.     

Monitoring of the degradation kinetics of diatrizoate sodium to its cytotoxic degradant using a stability‐indicating high‐performance liquid chromatographic method

The X‐ray diagnostic agent sodium diatrizoate (DTA) was studied for chemical degradation. The 3,5‐diamino derivative was found to be the alkaline and acidic degradation product. The 3,5‐diamino degradate is also the synthetic precursor of DTA and it is proved to have cytotoxic and mutagenic effects. A sensitive, selective and precise high‐performance liquid chromatographic stability‐indicating method for the determination of DTA in the presence of its acidic degradation product and in pharmaceutical formulation was developed and validated. Owing to the high toxicity of the degradation product, the kinetics of the acidic degradation process was monitored by the developed RP‐HPLC method. The reaction was found to follow pseudo‐first order kinetics. The kinetic parameters such as rate constant (K ) and half‐life (t _½) were calculated under different temperatures and acid concentrations; activation energy was estimated from the Arrhenius plot. The developed RP‐HPLC method depends on isocratic elution of a mobile phase composed of methanol–water (25:75 v /v; pH adjusted with phosphoric acid), and UV detection at 238 nm. The method showed good linearity over a concentration range of 2–100 μg/mL with mean percentage recovery of 100.04 ± 1.07. The selectivity of the proposed method was tested using laboratory‐prepared mixtures. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of DTA in pharmaceutical dosage forms without interference from other dosage form additives and the results were statistically compared with the official USP method. Validation of the proposed method was performed according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines.     

Optimization of mobile phase for the determination of Esomeprazole and related compounds and investigation of stress degradation by LC–MS

In this study, the objective was to investigate the degradation behavior of Esomeprazole under different recommended stress conditions according to International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use [1] by HPLC. Our research showed that the effect of mobile phase species on separation was significant for the determination of Esomeprazole and its related compounds. Successful separation of the drug from its related impurities and degradation products formed under different stress conditions was achieved using ammonium acetate buffer/ACN by a gradient elution. Compared with phosphate buffer/ACN, ammonium acetate buffer/ACN under same pH and gradient showed a great improvement in resolution due to the change of elution order. The drug was subjected to stress conditions including acidic, alkaline, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal conditions. Extensive degradation occurred in acidic and oxidative conditions, while mild degradation was observed in alkaline and photolytic conditions. Besides, it turned out the drug was extremely stable under thermal condition. The stability‐indicating LC–UV method was validated with respect to linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, and robustness. The LC–MS method was also adopted for the characterization of degradation products. Based on the m/z values and fragmentation patterns, the degradation pathway of the drug has been proposed.     

Two validated chromatographic determinations of an antifungal drug,its toxic impurities and degradation product: A comparative study

Tolnaftate, a thionoester anti‐fungal drug, was subjected to alkaline hydrolysis to produce methyl(m‐tolyl)carbamic acid and β ‐naphthol (tolnaftate impurity A). N‐Methyl‐m‐toluidine, tolnaftate impurity D, was synthesized and structurally elucidated along with tolnaftate alkaline degradation products using IR, H¹NMR and MS. Two stability‐indicating HPTLC and RP‐HPLC methods were developed and validated, for the first time, for determination of tolnaftate, its alkaline degradation products and toxic impurities in the presence of methyl paraben, as a preservative in Tinea Cure^® cream. The proposed HPTLC method depended on separation of the studied components on TLC silica gel F₂₅₄ plates using hexane–glacial acetic acid (8:2, v/v) as a developing system and scanning wavelength of 230 nm. The proposed RP‐HPLC method was based on separation of the five components on an Eclipse plus C₁₈ column. The mobile phase used was acetonitrile–water containing 1% ammonium formate (40:60, v/v), with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and detection wavelength of 230 nm. The proposed methods allowed the assay of tolnaftate toxic impurities, β ‐naphthol and N‐methyl‐m‐toluidine, down to 2%, allowing tracing of β ‐naphthol that could be absorbed by the skin causing systemic toxic effects, unlike tolnaftate, indicating the high significance of such determination. International Conference on Harmonization guidelines were followed for validation.     

Chromatographic methods development,validation and degradation characterization of the antithyroid drug Carbimazole

The current paper reports the development and validation of stability‐indicating HPLC and HPTLC methods for the separation and quantification of main impurity and degradation product of Carbimazole. The structures of the degradation products formed under stress degradation conditions, including hydrolytic and oxidative, photolytic and thermal conditions, were characterized and confirmed by MS and IR analyses. Based on the characterization data, the obtained degradation product from hydrolytic conditions was found to be methimazole—impurity A of Carbimazole as reported by the British Pharmacopeia and the European Pharmacopeia. A stability‐indicating HPLC method was carried out using a Zorbax Eclipse Plus CN column (150 × 4.6 mm i.d, 5 μm particle size) and a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile–0.05 m KH₂PO₄ (20: 80, v/v) in isocratic elution, at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The method was proved to be sensitive for the determination down to 0.5% of Carbimazole impurity A. Additionally, a stability‐indicating chromatographic HPTLC method was achieved using cyclohexane–ethanol (9:1, v/v) as a developing system on HPTLC plates F₂₅₄ with UV detection at 225 nm. The proposed HPLC and HPTLC methods were successfully applied to Carbimazole^® tablets with mean percentage recoveries of 100.12 and 99.73%, respectively.     

New approach for determination of the degradation products of fenspiride hydrochloride found in oral liquid formulations

Fenspiride hydrochloride (FNS) is used in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, most commonly as a liquid oral solution. FNS produces degradation products along with fenspiride N‐oxide (FNO) and 1‐phenylethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐4‐aminomethyl piperidine hydrochloride (PHAP). We aimed to develop and validate a chromatographic method in order to identify the main degradation products in the presence of other compounds from a liquid preparation. The method used a dual gradient using two buffer solutions: the first with pH 4.5 (buffer 1, pH 4.5–MeOH 90:10%, v/v) and the second with pH 2.9 (buffer 2, pH 2.9–acetronitrile–methanol, 65:15:10%, v/v/v). As mentioned, there was a modification of the organic mixture, starting with 10% methanol and ending with a mixture of acetonitrile–methanol (15:10%, v/v). The flow‐rate was 1.5 mL/min. According to the elution program, experimental conditions started with 100% solution S1, which decreased to 0% and, simultaneously, solution S2 increased to 100% during the first 10 min and was maintained for a further 5 min. After 15 min, initial conditions were re‐established. The linearity interval was 0.5–2 μg/mL and the minimum correlation coefficient was 0.999. The recovery factor was 100.47–103.17% and the limit of quantification was 0.19–0.332 μg/mL. Intra‐day maximum precision was 4.08% for FNS and 2.65% for PHAP. This double‐gradient mobile phase produced good specificity in relation to the degradation products of FNS and other constituents of the oral liquid formulation. Forced degradation studies revealed other related substances that were confirmed in mass balance analyses. Degradation products were confirmed in acidic, basic and oxidative media.