Liquid chromatographic determination of morphine sulfate and some contaminants in injections and bulk drug material

A liquid chromatographic (LC) procedure is described for the assay of morphine sulfate in bulk drug material and injection solutions. The bulk drug and injection samples are prepared by direct dilution with LC mobile solvent. The average bulk drug purity (5 manufacturers) determined by the LC method was 99.9% with a difference of 0.1% from the average purity (anhydrous) found by the official USP XX procedure. The average LC recovery (19 studies) of morphine sulfate added to injection samples was 99.4% with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.14%. Morphine sulfate content was determined in triplicate for 53 injection samples (1-15 mg morphine sulfate/mL) formulated by 6 manufacturers, using the proposed LC procedure. Individual sample CV (n = 3) averaged 1.14%. The LC method is simple and specific for morphine sulfate. Major degradation products, preservatives, and some contaminants and related compounds are separated during LC.     

Determination of small quantities of atropine in commercial preparations by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method is presented for the determination of small quantities of atropine in commercial preparations by liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. The sample is extracted with CHCl3 from basic suspension, the CHCl3 is evaporated on the steam bath, and the dry residue is dissolved in a small volume of CH3OH. A reverse phase column is used for the LC analysis; the eluting solvent is prepared by mixing 950 mL CH3OH with 50 mL water containing 1 g of the sodium salt of 1-pentanesulfonic acid. The fluorescence detector is set at an excitation wavelength of 255 nm and an emission wavelength of 285 nm. Several commercial tablets and injections containing atropine in combination with other ingredients and a commercial sample of belladonna extract were analyzed by the proposed method. Recoveries of atropine sulfate from aqueous solutions averaged 100.7% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.35% for atropine sulfate levels of 0.12 mg. Recoveries of atropine sulfate from synthetic injection formulations were 99.8 and 100.0% with RSDs of 2.03 and 2.35%, respectively; the atropine sulfate concentrations of commercial injections with the same formulations were found to be 97.0 and 100.0% of the labeled amounts with RSDs of 0.53 and 1.46%, respectively.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of colchicine in pharmaceuticals: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of colchicine in pharmaceutical dosage forms and the bulk drug was evaluated in an interlaboratory study which included 13 participating laboratories. The method involves extraction (or dissolution) of the active ingredient with methanol-water (1 + 1), followed by filtration of the extract and reverse phase LC using an octylsilane bonded phase column and UV detection at 254 nm. The mobile phase consists of a methanol-phosphate buffer mixture (pH = 5.5). Three commercial tablet formulations (0.5-0.6 mg colchicine/tablet), 1 synthetic injectable preparation (0.510 mg colchicine/mL), and 1 bulk drug sample were assayed in duplicate by the proposed method. The reproducibility and repeatability standard deviations based on nonpooled results for each sample ranged from 0.0062 mg/mL to 0.0147 mg/tablet and from 0.0037 mg/mL to 0.0127 mg/tablet, respectively; the corresponding coefficients of variation ranged from 1.21 to 2.54% and from 0.73 to 2.19%, respectively. The mean recovery from the synthetic injectable formulation was 100.0%. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Liquid chromatographic determination and identification tests for dexamethasone in bulk drugs and elixirs: collaborative study

A normal phase liquid chromatographic method for the determination of dexamethasone in bulk drugs and elixirs was collaboratively studied by 6 laboratories. The method uses a silica column, water-modified acetic acid-methanol-methylene chloride mobile phase, cortisone internal standard, and photometric detection at 254 nm. Collaborators were supplied blind duplicate samples of 3 bulk drugs, 2 commercial elixirs, and 1 authentic elixir. Dexamethasone elixir dosage level is 0.5 mg/5 mL. Mean recovery of dexamethasone from the authentic elixir formulated to contain 0.471 mg/5 mL was 94.5%. (Authentic elixirs were found to stabilize about 6% below the theoretical concentration.) Mean recovery for the bulk drugs was between 97.1 and 100.1%. Mean coefficients of variation for bulk drug and elixir samples were less than 0.8% and 3.6%, respectively. Identification tests for dexamethasone by thin-layer chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and relative LC retention times, as well as the gas chromatographic determination of alcohol in the elixirs were also collaboratively studied. Mean recovery of alcohol from the synthetic elixir was 98.6%. The mean coefficient of variation for alcohol for all samples analyzed was less than 1.4%. The LC method for dexamethasone in drug substance and elixirs, the identification tests, and the GC method for alcohol in dexamethasone elixirs have been adopted official first action.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of sulfasalazine in tablets and bulk powder

A liquid chromatographic method has been developed that determines the amount of sulfasalazine in tablets and bulk powder in the presence of residual synthesis by-products and excipients. The method was tested on crude product containing large amounts of impurities. A C-18 reverse phase column with water-acetonitrile-acetic acid mobile phase was found to effectively separate the drug on the column. Six different commercial samples of 500 mg tablets were assayed. The results varied from 92.6 to 101.8% of the declared amount. Spectrophotometric determinations, which do not discriminate between the drug and impurities, gave 95.4-101.8% of declared. One commercial sample of bulk powder was assayed.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of propranolol hydrochloride in various dosage forms

A simple and rapid liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of propranolol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations. The separation was achieved on a reverse-phase octylsilane (C8) column by using a mobile phase composed of a mixture of 0.5 g dodecyl sodium sulfate in 18 mL (0.15 M) H3PO4 plus 90 mL methanol, 90 mL acetonitrile, and 52 mL water. Detector response was linear for 0.03-3.1 mg/mL of propranolol. Recoveries from synthetic mixtures ranged from 99.6 to 101.7%. The results obtained by the proposed method were similar to those obtained by the USP XXI method.     

Reverse-phase liquid chromatographic determination of dexamethasone acetate and cortisone acetate in bulk drug substance and dosage forms: collaborative study

A reverse-phase liquid chromatographic method for determination of dexamethasone acetate and of cortisone acetate was subjected to an interlaboratory study by 8 collaborators for each steroid acetate. Bulk drug substance, suspensions, and tablets were assayed. Bulk drug or dosage form is dissolved in an acetonitrile-buffer mixture and analyzed by an external standard method. The steroid acetate is resolved from extraneous components by reverse-phase chromatography and detected at 254 nm. The sample solutions are stable for at least 72 h. For dexamethasone acetate, coefficients of variation were 0.9 and less than or equal to 3.1% for the bulk drug substance and the suspensions, respectively. For cortisone acetate, coefficients of variation were 0.7% for bulk material, less than or equal to 2.0% for suspensions, and less than or equal to 2.5% for tablets. All dosage forms were commercial formulations. The 2 methods have been adopted official first action.     

Application of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography to the analysis of uncharged pesticides of environmental impact

A test mixture of five pesticides and metabolites (naphthalene acetamide, carbaryl, 1-naphthol, thiabendazole, and carbendazime) has been investigated by capillary electrophoresis with an ultraviolet diode array detector. These compounds were separated in <10 min by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC). MEKC was performed in 30 mM ammonium chloride/ammonia buffer (pH 9.0) containing 15 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate. The lowest detection limit was obtained for the insecticide carbaryl (0.22 microg mL(-)(1)) and the highest for its metabolite 1-naphthol (1.13 microg mL(-)(1)). This method was applied to the analysis of the pesticides in cultivated vegetables such as cucumbers, which were extracted with a liquid-liquid extraction procedure, obtaining recovery percentages ranging from 90.1 to 110.2%.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of desfuroylceftiofur metabolite of ceftiofur as residue in cattle plasma

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method has been developed for the determination of the desfuroylceftiofur metabolite of ceftiofur as a residue in the plasma of animals. Plasma sample in 0.1M pH 8.7 phosphate buffer containing dithioerythritol is incubated under nitrogen for 15 min at 50 degrees C. The sample is centrifuged, charged to a C18 cartridge, and washed with 0.1M ammonium acetate. The desfuroylceftiofur residue on the cartridge is derivatized by adding 0.1M ammonium acetate containing iodoacetamide and letting the cartridge stand in the dark for 30 min. The cartridge is then drained and rinsed, and the desfuroylceftiofur acetamide is eluted with methanol. The mixture is evaporated to dryness, dissolved in pH 10.6 sodium hydroxide, and charged to a SAX cartridge. The derivative is eluted with 2% acetic acid, reduced in volume, and dissolved in mobile phase for liquid chromatography. The LC system includes a C8 column and guard cartridge with UV detection at 254 nm. The gradient mobile phase (flow rate 1 mL/min) is 0.01M pH 5 ammonium acetate programmed to 29% methanol-water (60 + 40) in 25 min. Recoveries were 90-100% with a sensitivity of 0.1 ppm or less. The procedure has been applied to the plasma of cattle, rats, horses, pigs, and dogs.     

Determination of terbutaline sulfate in dosage forms by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection has been developed for the determination of terbutaline sulfate in dosage forms. A cyanopropyl bonded-phase column is used with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.1 M monobasic potassium phosphate containing 0.1M sodium heptanesulfonate and 1mM disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (15 + 85). The compound of interest is detected at a glassy carbon electrode held at a potential of +0.9 V vs silver-silver chloride. The response is linear from 0 to 10 micrograms/mL terbutaline sulfate. The method is applicable to tablet composites, individual tablets, dissolution determinations, and injections. Results and supporting data are reported for the above analyses.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of pentaerythritol tetranitrate in pharmaceuticals: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in pharmaceutical formulations and the bulk drug triturate was evaluated in an interlaboratory study that included 12 participating laboratories. The procedure involves extraction of the active ingredient with mobile phase, followed by filtration of the extract and reverse-phase liquid chromatography using an octadecylsiliane bonded phase column and UV detection at 230 nm. The mobile phase composition is 35% water in acetonitrile (v/v). Three bulk drug samples (20, 20, and 35% PETN), 2 commercial tablet formulations (20 and 80 mg PETN/tablet), and 1 commercial capsule formulation (45 mg PETN/capsule) were analyzed in duplicate by the proposed method. Repeatability (sr, RSDr) and reproducibility (SR, RSDR) based on peak height measurement for these samples ranged from 0.0066 to 0.1806 (0.53-3.36%) and 0.0165 to 0.2075 (0.76-3.86%), respectively. Results for peak area measurements ranged from 0.0145 to 0.2011 (0.93-3.74%) and 0.0231 to 0.2091 (1.28-3.89%), respectively. The method has been approved interim official first action by AOAC.     

Normal phase liquid chromatographic determination of sulfamethoxazole in tablets: collaborative study

A stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method is presented for determining sulfamethoxazole in tablets. The method uses a 10 micron silica column, an isooctane-methylene chloride-2-propanol-acetonitrile-glacial acetic acid (70 + 25 + 5 + 5 + 0.5) mobile phase, and photometric detection at 254 nm. Seven laboratories collaboratively studied this method on powdered composite samples prepared from commercial 500 and 1000 mg tablets and on an authentic tablet mixture containing 83.32% added sulfamethoxazole. Mean assay results for the 500 and 1000 mg tablets were 102.2 and 97.9% of declared, respectively (n = 4). The mean recovery value for the synthetic sample was 99.4% (n = 4). The pooled reproducibility standard deviation (SD) (coefficient of variation (CV)) and pooled repeatability SD (CV) were +/- 1.01 (1.01%) and +/- 0.96 (0.96%), respectively. These results were in good agreement with those obtained by the Associate Referee for the titration method of USP XX. The proposed method can also be used for monitoring the presence of sulfanilamide in sulfamethoxazole by increasing the proportions of both acetonitrile and 2-propanol in the mobile phase. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of prednisolone in tablets and bulk drugs: interlaboratory study

A normal phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of prednisolone in tablets and bulk drugs was studied by 7 analysts. An LC system, consisting of a methanol-water-ethylene dichloride-acetic acid mobile phase and a silica column, was used to analyze bulk drugs, individual tablets, and composite samples. Analysts were supplied with 16 samples, including simulated formulations, composites of commercial tablets, intact tablets, and bulk drug substances. Results agreed with those obtained by the author. The coefficients of variation of the analysts' results ranged from 1.34% for bulk drugs to 2.14% for tablet composites. The LC method is suggested as an alternative to the official AOAC and USP XX blue tetrazolium colorimetric methods.     

Simultaneous determination of ochratoxin A and cyclopiazonic,mycophenolic, and tenuazonic acids in cornflakes by solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method, coupled to liquid chromatography with diode array UV detection (LC-UV/DAD), for the simultaneous determination of cyclopiazonic acid, mycophenolic acid, tenuazonic acid, and ochratoxin A is described. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a propylamino-bonded silica gel stationary phase using acetonitrile/methanol/ammonium acetate buffer mixture (78:2:20, v/v/v) as mobile phase. SPME adsorption and desorption conditions were optimized using a silica fiber coated with a 60 microm thick polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene film. Estimated limits of detection and limits of quantitation ranged from 3 to 12 ng/mL and from 7 to 29 ng/mL, respectively. The method has been applied to cornflake samples. Samples were subjected to a preliminary short sonication in MeOH/2% KHCO(3) (70:30, v/v); the mixture was evaporated to near dryness and reconstituted in 1.5 mL of 5 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3) for SPME followed by LC-UV/DAD. The overall procedure had recoveries (evaluated on samples spiked at 200 ng/g level) ranging from 74 +/- 4 to 103 +/- 9%. Samples naturally contaminated with cyclopiazonic and tenuazonic acids were found; estimated concentrations were 72 +/- 9 and 25 +/- 6 ng/g, respectively.     

Immunosorbents coupled on-line with liquid chromatography for the determination of fluoroquinolones in chicken liver.

Four fluoroquinolones were analyzed in fortified chicken liver using an automated, on-line immunoaffinity extraction method. The fluoroquinolones were extracted from the liver matrix using an immunoaffinity capture column containing anti-sarafloxacin antibodies covalently cross-linked to protein G. After interfering liver matrix components had been washed away, the captured fluoroquinolones were automatically eluted directly onto a reversed phase column. Liquid chromatographic analyses were performed by isocratic elution using 2% acetic acid/acetonitrile (85:15) as the mobile phase and an Inertsil phenyl column with fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 280 and 444 nm, respectively. No significant interferences from the sample matrix were observed, indicating good selectivity with the immunoaffinity column. Overall recoveries from fortified liver samples (20, 50, and 100 ng/g) ranged between 85.7 and 93.5% with standard deviations of <5%. The limit of quantification for each fluoroquinolone was 1 ng/mL. The limits of detection, based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1, were 0.47, 0.32, 0.87, and 0.53 ng/mL for ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, and difloxacin, respectively.     

Determination of alachlor and its metabolite 2,6-diethylaniline in microbial culture medium using online microdialysis enriched-sampling coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

In this study, a simple and novel microdialysis sampling technique incorporating hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) coupled online to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the one-step sample pretreatment and direct determination of alachlor (2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N -(methoxymethyl)acetanilide) and its metabolite 2,6-diethylaniline (2,6-DEA) in microbial culture medium has been developed. A reversed-phase C-18 column was utilized to separate alachlor and 2,6-DEA from other species using an acetonitrile/water mixture (1:1) containing 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.0 as the mobile phase. Detection was carried out with a UV detector operated at 210 nm. Parameters that influenced the enrichment efficiency of online HF-LPME sampling, including the length of the hollow fiber, the perfusion solvent and its flow rate, the pH, and the salt added in sample solution, as well as chromatographic conditions were thoroughly optimized. Under optimal conditions, excellent enrichment efficiency was achieved by the microdialysis of a sample solution (pH 7.0) using hexane as perfusate at the flow rate of 4 μL/min. Detection limits were 72 and 14 ng/mL for alachlor and 2,6-DEA, respectively. The enrichment factors were 403 and 386 (RSD < 5%) for alachlor and 2,6-DEA, respectively, when extraction was performed by using a 40 cm regenerated cellulose hollow fiber and hexane as perfusion solvent at the flow rate of 0.1 μL/min. The proposed method provides a sensitive, flexible, fast, and eco-friendly procedure to enrich and determine alachlor and its metabolite (2,6-DEA) in microbial culture medium.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of zoalene and its metabolites in chicken tissues with electrochemical detection

A procedure is described for the quantitation of Zoalene (3,5-dinitro-o-toluamide) and its 2 major monoamino metabolites in chicken tissues. The method includes blender extraction of tissue with chloroformethyl acetate (1 + 1), adsorption of the drug and metabolites on neutral alumina, and subsequent elution of the residues with pH 3.5 formate buffer-methanol (6.5 + 3.5). Recovered residues were separated on a 5 micron C18 column with the alumina eluting solvent as the LC mobile phase. The parent drug and metabolites were detected and quantitated with an electrochemical detector in the reductive mode with a minimum level of reliable measurement of 0.1 ppm. Overall mean recoveries greater than 85% were obtained with Zoalene and its 2 monoamino metabolites in breast, thigh, and liver tissues fortified with 0.25-2.00 ppm. The results on tissues from chickens fed a diet containing 0.0125% Zoalene are presented.     

Optimized LC/MS/MS analysis of morphine and codeine in poppy seed and evaluation of their fate during food processing as a basis for risk analysis

The opiate alkaloids present in poppy seed intended for use in food recently have raised major concerns. An efficient method for routine analysis of morphine and codeine using liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometry on a triple quadrupole instrument (LC/MS/MS) was therefore developed. The optimal sample preparation was found to be cold extraction of 10 g of unground poppy seed with 30 mL of methanol containing 0.1% acetic acid for 60 min shaken at 250 rpm. The fate of morphine during food processing was also studied. All experiments led to a significant reduction of morphine and codeine. For poppy cake only 16-50% of the morphine was recovered, and in poppy buns at the highest temperature (220 degrees C) only 3% of the original morphine content was found. Ground poppy seed showed significantly lower recoveries than untreated seed. Morphine elimination during food processing has to be taken into account in the current discussion about its maximum limits in poppy seed.     

Application of 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic method for quinidine to simultaneous determination of quinidine and dihydroquinidine in quinidine sulfate tablets

Based on the structural differences between quinidine and dihydroquinidine, a 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic method previously reported for quinidine drug substance was modified and shown to be applicable to the quantitative determination of both compounds in quinidine sulfate tablets. Deuterated chloroform was used as the solvent and hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane served as an internal standard. The average recovery and standard deviation of quinidine sulfate (calculated as the sum of quinidine sulfate plus dihydroquinidine sulfate) from synthetic formulations was 98.94 +/- 0.43% (n = 10). Five lots of 200 mg tablets of quinidine sulfate from one commercial source were found to contain from 92.9 to 95.8% quinidine sulfate, and from 1.1 to 7.0% dihydroquinidine sulfate.     

Simultaneous liquid chromatographic determination of some tetracyclines in serum

A sensitive liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of oxytetracycline, minocycline, tetracycline, and doxycycline in serum. A serum sample is vortex-mixed with a solution of mobile phase for tetracyclines and 2% (v/v) phosphoric acid. The mixture is filtered using a 30,000 molecular weight cutoff microseparation tube which separates high-molecular-weight solutes following low-speed centrifugation. Tetracyclines are separated from other serum components by reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC) with buffered methanol mobile phase. Ultraviolet absorbance of the column effluent is monitored at 267 nm. Concentrations as low as 0.2 micrograms/mL of tetracyclines in serum are quantitatable, with recoveries from 76.2 to 102.6% and coefficients of variation from 2.69 to 5.36%. The method has been tested in bovine, porcine, equine, caprine, ovine, canine, feline, and avian (turkey) serum.