Capillary electrophoresis–electrochemiluminescence detection method for the analysis of ibandronate in drug formulations and human urine

A simple, rapid and sensitive CE method coupled with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection for direct analysis of ibandronate (IBAN) has been developed. Using a buffer solution of 20 mM sodium phosphate (pH 9.0) and a voltage of 13.5 kV, separation of IBAN in a 30‐cm length capillary was achieved in 3 min. ECL detection was performed with an indium tin oxide working electrode bias at 1.6 V (versus a Pt wire reference) in a 200‐mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) containing 3.5 mM Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ (where bpy=2,2′‐bipyridyl). Derivatization of IBAN prior to CE‐ECL analysis was not needed. Linear correlation (r=0.9992, n=7) between ECL intensity and analyte concentration was obtained in the range of 0.25–50 μM IBAN. The LOD of IBAN in water was 0.08 μM. The developed method was applied to the analysis of IBAN in a drug formulation and human urine sample. SPE using magnetic Fe₃O₄@Al₂O₃ nanoparticles as the extraction phase was employed to pretreat the urine sample before CE‐ECL analysis. The linear range was 0.2–12.0 μM IBAN in human urine (r=0.9974, n=6). The LOD of IBAN in urine was 0.06 μM. Total analysis time including sample preparation was <1 h.