Combined use of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance for the identification of degradation compounds in an erythromycin formulation.

A commercial erythromycin formulation containing erythromycin A (EA) as the major compound showed the presence of an unknown degradation compound that was co-eluted with erythromycin E (EE) in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) liquid chromatographic (LC) method. The amount of the degradation compound increased with respect to time. To separate this unknown (UNK1), investigation was performed with different LC methods coupled to ultraviolet detection (LC-UV). With the present Ph. Eur. method, the degradation compound could not be well separated. However, with the most selective LC-UV method (XTerra method), two more degradation products (UNK2 and UNK3) were found in the formulation which could not be observed using other methods because of their poor separation. By combining the results obtained with LC-UV, LC/MS and LC/NMR, the degradation products were identified as pseudoerythromycin A hemiketal (PsEAHK), erythromycin A enol ether carboxylic acid and erythromycin C enol ether carboxylic acid. PsEAHK is known to be a base-catalysed degradation product of EA, whereas the other two degradation products were newly identified.

Development of a liquid chromatographic assay for an anti-HIV tablet containing lamivudine, zidovudine and TMC278.HCL.

A liquid chromatographic method was developed to analyse a tablet containing three anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compounds: lamivudine, zidovudine and a compound with the code name TMC278.HCl. Due to the presence of UV absorbing chromophores in the three active components, a single LC method with UV detection was developed. A Hypersil BDS C(18) column was used as stationary phase and the assay was performed with gradient elution using mobile phases containing acetonitrile, 0.2M potassium dihydrogen phosphate and water. The sample pretreatment is performed by treating the formulation with dimethyl sulfoxide-water (1:1) followed by filtration. After method development, the influence of the different chromatographic parameters on the separation, the interference of other active compounds and excipients, the repeatability and the linearity were investigated. The method was shown to be robust, selective, linear and repeatable. Finally, the content of the compounds in the tablet was determined.

Development of a liquid chromatography method for the analysis of josamycin.

Out of three methods for the analysis of josamycin, the best one was selected and used as starting point for further development. A central composite design was applied to find the most influencing parameters and to optimize the chromatographic conditions and a full factorial design was used to perform a robustness study. The final method uses a Hypersil ODS column 5microm, 250mmx4.6mm i.d. maintained at 45 degrees C. The mobile phase is composed of acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (pH 3, 0.2moll(-1))-tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate 0.2moll(-1)-water (21:5:3:71, v/v/v/v). Strongly retained impurities after the main peak require gradient elution, which is obtained by increasing linearly the acetonitrile concentration (from 21% to 50%, v/v) and decreasing the TBA concentration (from 3% to 0%, v/v) in the mobile phase. The total run time was 65min. UV detection is performed at 232nm and the flow rate is 1ml/min. The method shows good selectivity, precision, linearity and sensitivity. Five commercial bulk samples were analyzed.

Influence of the solvent system on the stability of doxycycline solutions.

Concentrated solutions of doxycycline are often added to drinking water of animals for oral antibiotic therapy. However, stability concerns of doxycycline in solution involve an accurate selection of the solvent system to ensure that the active substance will remain within the acceptance range during the product shelf-life and to avoid sub-therapeutic dosage. Different solvent systems have been evaluated in order to determine their influence on the stability of concentrated doxycycline solutions. The results showed differences in the degradation kinetics of doxycycline depending on the co-solvent used and they permitted to select a solvent system for liquid doxycycline hyclate formulations with low rate of degradation even after several months of storage. So, the inclusion of ethanol together with propylene glycol as main excipient was found to be beneficial, while no benefit was observed concerning the addition of citric acid. Once administered to drinking water, the solutions were stable for 24 h with no influence of the solvent system.

Improved reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method combined with pulsed electrochemical detection for the analysis of amikacin.

A two-step gradient liquid chromatographic method combined with pulsed electrochemical detection is described for the determination of amikacin and its impurities. The mobile phase is composed of an aqueous solution containing 1.8 g/l sodium 1-octanesulphonate, 14 ml/l tetrahydrofuran, 50 ml/l of phosphate buffer pH 3.0 and sodium sulphate, which was 20 g/l in mobile phase A and 28 g/l in mobile phase B. 0.5 M sodium hydroxide was added post-column to enhance the detection. An investigation of different reversed-phase columns indicated that the Discovery (C18, 5 microm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.) column was the most suitable. Compared to previously published investigations, the proposed method showed higher sensitivity and efficiency, allowing the separation of the main component amikacin from 16 impurities, 7 of which were of unknown identity. A central composite experimental design was used to assess the robustness. The method showed good repeatability and linearity in the assay range. The method was further applied to analyze some commercial samples.

Characterization of impurities in dirithromycin by liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry.

With a recently developed liquid chromatographic (LC) method, using a phosphate buffer, several unknown impurities present in dirithromycin samples were separated. In this paper, a reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method is described for the investigation of dirithromycin and related substances. The method employed uses a Zorbax Extend C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.), 5 microm, and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, 2-propanol, water and ammonium acetate solution pH 8.5. Mass spectral data are acquired on an LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ion (ESI) source operated in the positive ion mode. The LCQ is ideally suited for the identification of related substances because it provides on-line LC/MS(n) capability, which allows efficient identification without time-consuming isolation and purification procedures. Using this method, the fragmentation behavior of dirithromycin and its related substances was studied and the unknown impurities occurring in commercial samples were investigated. In total the structures of nine impurities were elucidated, among which three were different analogues with a modification in the side chain on the oxazine ring. Two impurities showed a different alkyl group in position C13. In two impurities the desosamine sugar was involved with changes in the degrees of methylation of the amino group. One unknown impurity was identified as dirithromycin F and another unknown was characterized as dirithromycin N-oxide.

Analysis of neomycin using an improved liquid chromatographic method combined with pulsed electrochemical detection.

An isocratic liquid chromatographic method with pulsed electrochemical detection is described for the determination of neomycin in the presence of its impurities. The mobile phase is composed of an aqueous solution containing 35 g/l of sodium sulphate, 1 g/l of sodium 1-octanesulfonate, 14 ml/l of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 50 ml/l of 0.2 M phosphate buffer pH 3.0. Sodium hydroxide was added post column to enhance the detection. An investigation of different reversed-phase columns indicated that the Discovery (C18 5 microm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.) column was the most suitable. The proposed method shows high efficiency, allowing the separation of the main component neomycin B from neomycin C and 15 other impurities. A central composite design was used to assess the robustness of the method. The method showed good selectivity, repeatability, linearity and sensitivity. This method was applied to analyse commercial samples.

Determination of stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and stigmastanol in oral dosage forms using high performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection.

A validated and repeatable high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with online evaporative light scattering (ELSD) was developed for the analysis of two sterols, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and a stanol, stigmastanol, found to be common in many herbal formulations and health care supplements. The method is based on the separation of the three marker compounds on a C8 column (Phenomenex Luna, 5 microm, 150 mmx4.6 mm i.d.) using methanol:water (95:5 v/v) as the mobile phase, and a flow rate of 1 ml/min to separate all the marker compounds within 12 min. Cholesterol (50 microg/ml) was used as internal standard and methanol as the extraction solvent. The ELSD response parameters were optimised and the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were calculated to be 2 and 5 microg/ml, respectively, which is more sensitive than obtained by photo diode array detection (5 and 7 microg/ml). Using ELSD, the percentage relative standard deviation (%R.S.D.) of intra-day and inter-day (3 days) precision for each marker was better than 3%, the accuracy data were within 97-103% and the recovery data were found to be within 95-107% for the five commercially available products examined. This method was used to assay commercially available products formulated as oral dosage forms purported to contain African Potato and associated sterols and stanol and proved to be suitable for the routine analysis and quality control of such products.

Evaluation of an International Pharmacopoeia method for the analysis of indinavir sulfate by liquid chromatography.

A gradient LC method for the determination of indinavir sulfate (IDV) and its impurities has been recently published in a consultation document of the International Pharmacopoeia, WHO Drug Information. The method uses a base-deactivated reversed-phase C18 column (25 cm x 4.6 mm i.d.), 5 microm kept at a temperature of 40 degrees C. The mobile phases consist of acetonitrile, phosphate buffer pH 7.5 and water. The flow rate is 1.0 ml/min. UV detection is performed at 220 nm. A system suitability test (SST) is described to govern the quality of the separation. The separation towards IDV components was investigated on 16 C18 columns and correlation was made with the column classification system developed in our laboratory. The method was evaluated using a Hypersil BDS C18 column (25 cm x 4.6 mm i.d.), 5 microm. A central composite design was applied to examine the robustness of the method. The method shows good precision, linearity, sensitivity and robustness. Six commercial samples were examined using this method.

Improved LC of minocycline drug substance.

An isocratic liquid chromatographic method is described for the separation of minocycline and its impurities. This method uses XTerra RP-18, 5 microm (25 cm x 4.6 mm I.D.), a silica-based stationary phase with reduced silanol activity. A mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-0.2 M tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate pH 6.5-0.2 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid pH 6.5-water (20:20:20:40; v/v/v/v) was used at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The column temperature was set at 35 degrees C. UV detection was performed at 280 nm. Optimisation of the separation method and a robustness study were performed by means of a central composite experimental design. The method allows to separate minocycline from known impurities. Some unidentified impurities are also separated. The total time of analysis is less than 20 min.

Evaluation of the stability of chlortetracycline in granular premixes by monitoring its conversion into degradation products.

A methodology for the evaluation of the stability of chlortetracycline (CTC) in granular premixes is described. This methodology is based on the monitoring of the conversion of CTC into its degradation products by an improved gradient liquid chromatography (LC) method, based on one previously described by our laboratory. Sample preparation involves the extraction of CTC and its degradation products prior to LC analysis, using acidified methanol as extraction solvent. The gradient elution LC method proved to be very sensitive, especially towards the late eluting anhydro derivatives. The use of a Hypersil C8 BDS, 5 microm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d. column is recommended since this column allowed a complete separation of the different impurities from each other and from the main component CTC. The applicability of this approach was demonstrated by the analysis of stability samples.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of acyclic nucleosides with a 3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl or 4(R)-methoxy-3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl side chain.

Optically pure acyclic nucleoside analogues with a 3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl or 4(R)-methoxy-3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl side chain were synthesized starting from 2-deoxy-D-ribose. The acyclic nucleosides were obtained by alkylation of the bases with the mesylates 16 and 17. Of these series of novel nucleoside analogues only 9-[3(S),5-dihydroxypent-1-yl]guanine (6d) showed marked antiviral activity. It inhibited the cytopathogenicity of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) at a concentration of 0.4-0.6 microgram/mL, which thus points to a greater antiviral activity than recently reported for the mixture of the R and S enantiomers (12.5 micrograms/mL). In contrast with 6d, its 4(R)-methoxy derivative 7d did not show antiviral activity, which implies that the 4'-methoxy group is unable to mimic the 1',4'-oxygen bridge of the normal furanose ring.

5'-O-phosphonomethyl-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides: synthesis and anti-HIV activity.

5'-O-Phosphonomethylation of different pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides was accomplished by reaction of the latter with diethyl [(p-toylsulfonyl)oxy]methanephosphonate (1) in the presence of sodium hydride. The base-phosphonomethylated (15-19) and sugar-phosphonomethylated (8-12) derivatives could be readily distinguished by 1H and 13C NMR and MS analysis. Protection of the uracil or thymine residue with a N3-benzoyl group failed to prevent base modification. However, O4-methyl-protected 2',3'-dideoxyuridine readily afforded the 5'-O-phosphonomethylated derivative 12, which was converted to both the 2',3'-didoxyuridine analogue 27 and the 2',3'-dideoxycytidine counterpart 29. The 5'-O-phosphonomethyl derivatives of 3'-deoxythymidine (23), 2',3'-dideoxyuridine, (27), 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (29), 3'-O-methylthymidine (26), and 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine (28) did not show an appreciable anti-HIV activity in MT-4 cells. In contrast, the 5'-O-phosphonomethyl derivatives of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine (24) and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (25) inhibited HIV-1 cytopathogenicity by 50% at a concentration of approximately 1 microM.

The gelatinase inhibitory activity of tetracyclines and chemically modified tetracycline analogues as measured by a novel microtiter assay for inhibitors.

A quantitative nonisotopic solution assay for gelatinases and inhibitors was developed using biotinylated gelatin as enzyme substrate. In this assay, residual biotinylated substrate is sandwiched between avidin-coated plates and streptavidin-peroxidase and is quantified by the peroxidase reaction. This assay was useful for measuring gelatinase activities and defining the activities of gelatinase inhibitors. When 23 tetracycline analogues were compared, significant differences in gelatinase B inhibition were found between various compounds. 4-epioxytetracycline base, 4-epichlortetracycline, meclocyclinesulfosalicylate, and unmodified metacycline and minocycline proved to be the most potent gelatinase B (EC 3.4.24.35) inhibitors. The gelatinase B inhibitory activity of tetracyclines was clearly dissociated from their antimicrobial activity. The effect of high-molecular-weight inhibitors, such as monoclonal antibodies, was also demonstrable in the microtiter plate assay. In view of the pathophysiological function of gelatinases, the definition of gelatinase inhibitors with known efficacy, safety, and side effects is crucial for the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Particular tetracyclines fulfil these criteria and the described assay is useful for defining other gelatinase-inhibiting lead compounds.

Determination of neomycin sulfate by liquid chromatography with pulsed electrochemical detection.

The determination of neomycin sulfate by liquid chromatography using a column packed with a poly(styrenedivinylbenzene) co-polymer and pulsed electrochemical detection on a gold electrode is described. The mobile phase consisted of an aqueous solution containing 70 g/l of sodium sulfate, 1.4 g/l of sodium 1-octanesulfonate and 50 ml/l of a 0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 3.0). Sodium hydroxide was added post-column. The influence of the different chromatographic parameters on the separation was investigated. The method shows good linearity and repeatability and is stability indicating. A number of commercial samples was analyzed using this method and the results were compared with results obtained with the European Pharmacopoeia method and a previously described thin-layer chromatographic method.

Liquid chromatography of troleandomycin.

Until now no liquid chromatography (LC) method is described to determine the purity and content of troleandomycin and its related substances. A simple, robust, sensitive and selective isocratic liquid chromatographic method suitable for the determination of the antibiotic troleandomycin and its related substances is described. This method utilizes as a stationary phase: XTerra RP18 5 microm (25 cm x 4.6 mm I.D.) at 30 degrees C and as mobile phase: acetonitrile-0.2 M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 6.0)-water (45:5:50, v/v), delivered at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. UV detection is performed at 205 nm. Troleandomycin is separated from the partially acetylated related substances and from several unknown impurities present in commercial samples. The robustness of the method was evaluated by a full-factorial experimental design.

Isolation of decomposition products of tylosin using liquid chromatography.

Decomposition products of tylosin A were isolated using open column chromatography and preparative liquid chromatography. Two decomposition products, formed in slightly alkaline medium, were identified as epimers of tylosin A aldol, one of which has been described previously. Another decomposition product was formed on exposure of a tylosin A solution to light. Isomerization of the double bond between C12-C13 takes place, resulting in the formation of the hitherto unreported isotylosin A.

Determination of the relative amounts of the B and C components of neomycin by thin-layer chromatography using fluorescence detection.

The determination of the relative amounts of the B and C components of neomycin sulphate by thin-layer chromatography using silica gel plates from Whatman as the stationary phase is described. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-20% (m/v) sodium chloride solution (15:85). Fluorescence detection was performed after derivatization with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole. The influence of different parameters on the separation was investigated. A number of commercial samples was analysed using this method and the results were compared with results obtained with ion-exchange chromatography and ninhydrin colorimetric detection, which is the official method prescribed by the European Pharmacopoeia. The described method is much easier to perform than the official method.

Analysis of clindamycin by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with a mixed micellar system.

This study details the development and validation of an optimized method with micellar electrokinetic chromatography for the analysis of clindamycin. The method uses a mixed micellar phase containing anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and non ionic Brij 35 on an untreated fused-silica capillary. The influences of buffer concentration, pH, SDS, Brij 35 and organic modifier were investigated. Special attention was given to the role of the non ionic Brij 35 in the mixed micellar system. Optimization with a central composite design resulted in optimal separation conditions: background electrolyte containing 25 mM sodium tetraborate pH 7.75, 90 mM SDS, 14 mM Brij 35 and 21% acetonitrile. The applied voltage was 15 kV and the capillary temperature 15 degrees C. The method was robust and gave good linearity and repeatability. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.05 and 0.15%, respectively, relative to a 2.5 mg/ml clindamycin solution. Two commercial bulk products were analysed with this system.

Development and validation of a simple capillary zone electrophoresis method for the analysis of kanamycin sulfate with UV detection after pre-capillary derivatization.

Capillary zone electrophoresis was successfully applied to separate eight related substances of kanamycin and several minor unknowns from the main component. Strategies to enhance derivatization and selectivity and to optimize separation parameters involved the application of experimental designs. This chemometrical approach considers main effects as well as interactions of the influential parameters, thus conducting a more thorough investigation of the method than the common step-by-step approach. Central composite face centered designs established optimal separation conditions: 30 mM borax buffer, pH 10.0 containing 16.0% (v/v) methanol and optimal composition of derivatization reagent: 27 mg/ml 1,2-phthalic dicarboxaldehyde and 25 microl/ml mercaptoacetic acid in borate buffer, pH 10.4. The standard curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.007-1.01 mg/ml for the main component and 0.003-0.1 mg/ml for the related substances. The limit of quantitation was 0.14% (m/m) for the related substances and impurities (S/N= 10). The assay method was used to determine the composition of several commercial samples. Quantitative analysis indicates potential usefulness of capillary electrophoresis as an alternative to the assay method prescribed in the European Pharmacopoeia and the United States Pharmacopeia.