HS-GC-MS method for the analysis of fragrance allergens in complex cosmetic matrices.

Potential allergenic fragrances are part of the Cosmetic Regulation with labelling and concentration restrictions. This means that they have to be declared on the ingredients list, when their concentration exceeds the labelling limit of 10 ppm or 100 ppm for leave-on or rinse-off cosmetics, respectively. Labelling is important regarding consumer safety. In this way, sensitised people towards fragrances might select their products based on the ingredients list to prevent elicitation of an allergic reaction. It is therefore important to quantify potential allergenic ingredients in cosmetic products. An easy to perform liquid extraction was developed, combined with a new headspace GC-MS method. The latter was capable of analysing 24 volatile allergenic fragrances in complex cosmetic formulations, such as hydrophilic (O/W) and lipophilic (W/O) creams, lotions and gels. This method was successfully validated using the total error approach. The trueness deviations for all components were smaller than 8%, and the expectation tolerance limits did not exceed the acceptance limits of ± 20% at the labelling limit. The current methodology was used to analyse 18 cosmetic samples that were already identified as being illegal on the EU market for containing forbidden skin whitening substances. Our results showed that these cosmetic products also contained undeclared fragrances above the limit value for labelling, which imposes an additional health risk for the consumer.

A validated GC-MS method for the determination and quantification of residual solvents in counterfeit tablets and capsules.

A fast headspace GC-MS method was developed and validated for the detection and quantification of residual solvents of all three ICH-classes in counterfeit tablets and capsules. The method was validated for 10 solvents, selected based on an initial screening of counterfeit medicinal products. The considered solvents were ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone, ethylacetate, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene, dichloromethane and ethylbenzene. The proposed method uses a Phenomenex 624 capillary column (60 m × 0.32 mm; 1.8 µm film thickness) (Phenomenex, Torrance, USA) with an oven temperature program from 60 °C (held for 5 min) to 270 °C at 25 °C/min. 270 °C is held for 10 min. The total run time is 23.4 min. The obtained method was fully validated by applying the "total error" profile. Calibration lines for all components were linear within the studied ranges. The relative bias and the relative standard deviations for all components were smaller than 5%, the ß-expectation tolerance limits did not exceed the acceptance limits of ±10% and the relative expanded uncertainties were acceptable for all of the considered components. A method was obtained for the screening and quantification of residual solvents in counterfeit tablets and capsules, which will allow a fast screening of these products for the presence of residual solvents.

A fast ultra high pressure liquid chromatographic method for qualification and quantification of pharmaceutical combination preparations containing paracetamol, acetyl salicylic acid and/or antihistaminics.

A fully validated UHPLC method for the identification and quantification of pharmaceutical preparations, containing paracetamol and/or acetyl salicylic acid, combined with anti-histaminics (phenylephrine, pheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine, promethazine) and/or other additives as quinine sulphate, caffeine or codeine phosphate, was developed. The proposed method uses a Waters Acquity BEH C18 column (2 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 µm) with a gradient using an ammonium acetate buffer pH 4.0 as aqueous phase and methanol as organic modifier. The obtained method was fully validated based on its measurement uncertainty (accuracy profile) and robustness tests. Calibration lines for all components were linear within the studied ranges. The relative bias and the relative standard deviations for all components were respectively smaller than 1.5% and 2%, the ß-expectation tolerance limits did not exceed the acceptance limits of 10% and the relative expanded uncertainties were smaller than 5% for all of the considered components. A UHPLC method was obtained for the identification and quantification of these kind of pharmaceutical preparations, which will significantly reduce analysis times and workload for the laboratories charged with the quality control of these preparations.