Gradient HPLC-diode array detector stability-indicating determination of lidocaine hydrochloride and cetylpyridinium chloride in two combined oral gel dosage forms

A simple, rapid, and selective HPLC-diode array detector method was developed for the simultaneous determination of lidocaine hydrochloride (LD) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) in two combined pharmaceutical formulations. Effective chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax SB-C8 (4.6 x 250 mm, 5 microm particle size) column with gradient elution using a mobile phase composed of 0.05 M phosphoric acid and acetonitrile. The gradient elution started with 25% (v/v) acetonitrile, ramped up linearly to 85% in 5 min, and then was constant until the end of the run. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. The multiple wavelength detector was set at 214 and 258 nm, and quantification of the analytes was based on measuring their peak areas. The retention times for LD and CPC were about 3.4 and 7.3 min, respectively. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to linearity, range, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. Calibration curves were linear in the range of 5-200 and 10-400 microg/mL for LD and CPC, respectively, with correlation coefficients > 0.999. The proposed method was proven to be stability-indicating by the resolution of the two analytes from the related substance and potential impurity (2,6-dimethylaniline) as well as from forced-degradation products. The validated HPLC method was extended to the analysis of LD and CPC in two combined oral gel preparations for which the two analytes were successfully resolved from the pharmaceutical adjuvants and quantified with recoveries not less than 97.9%.