Analytical Study of the Antifungal Posaconazole in Raw Material: Quantitative Bioassay, Decomposition Chemical Kinetics, and Degradation Impurities by LC-QTOF-MS.

BACKGROUND: Posaconazole is a triazole antifungal drug that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006. No bioassay of it is available in the literature nor official codes for potency determination in bulk. OBJECTIVE: To conduct an analytical study focused on posaconazole in bulk. METHODS: An alternative microbiological assay was validated for drug quantitation, applying agar diffusion technics (3 × 3 design), using Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC MYA 1942 as a test microorganism (2% inoculum). An isocratic HPLC-DAD method, with C8 Shim-pack column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) and methanol-water (75:25 v/v) mobile phase was used for stress stability by photolysis and oxidation, indicating the formation of degradation products, which were investigated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The established conditions for the bioassay were satisfactory. It was linear in the range evaluated (2.5-10.0 µg/mL), as well as precise, accurate, and robust. Stress tests showed drug susceptibility to the factors evaluated (60% of degradation after 120 min). Kinetics curves for photolytic decomposition followed first-order kinetics. From a photolytic and oxidative degraded matrix, three major degradation products were identified as being derivatives with modifications in the piperazine central ring and in the triazole and triazolone side chains, whose mass spectra results were m/z 683 (DP1), m/z 411 (DP2), and m/z 465 (DP3). CONCLUSIONS: The microbiological method was adequately validated and demonstrated to be equivalent to physico-chemical ones. The impurities found are described for the first time in studies with posaconazole raw material. HIGHLIGHTS: A microbiological bioassay was developed for posaconazole, first-order kinetics was determined for photolytic degradation, and structures for new degradation products were suggested.

Microbial transformation of ambrisentan to its glycosides by Cunninghamella elegans.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the glycosylation of ambrisentan (AMB) by cultures of Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 9245. AMB is an endothelin receptor antagonist, which is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. Filamentous fungi are morphologically complex and may exhibit different forms depending on the species and the nature of the culture medium. A biotransformation study was conducted to investigate the ability of C. elegans to metabolize AMB. Parameters were optimized by testing on different culture media and concentrations, pH, drug concentration, static and shaking conditions. Ambrisentan's metabolite, obtained after 240 h of incubation as a result of glycosylation pathway, was separated by HPLC and determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The method showed linearity over 300-1000 µg mL-1 (r = 0.998). Accuracy, precision, robustness and stability studies agree with international guidelines. Results are consistent in accordance with the principles of green chemistry as the experimental conditions had a low environmental impact, and used little solvent.

Stability, degradation impurities and decomposition kinetics for paliperidone from osmotic tablets.

The antipsychotic paliperidone was investigated with a focus on stability, degradation impurities and kinetics reaction profile. Osmotic tablets 3 mg (OROS® ) were subjected to extraction in an ultrasonic bath and the resulting acidic solution was stressed by forced conditions. Degraded samples were monitored by HPLC-DAD in different storage times for acidic and alkaline hydrolysis, oxidation, heat and photolysis. Photolysis was shown to be a strong degradation factor, with a drug content of 24.64% remaining after 24 h. Oxidation (H2 O2 18%) caused a slow decomposition, with a drug content of 83.49% remaining after 72 h. Through kinetics graphics, first-order reactions were found for oxidation, heat and photolysis. By UPLC-MS analysis, the degraded matrix could be investigated for identification of impurities with m/z 445.3128, m/z 380.8906, m/z 364.9391, m/z 232.9832 and m/z 217.0076, allowing the identification of derivatives N-oxide and with modifications in the lactam, benzisoxazole and pyrimidine rings. Paliperidone in liquid state, like analytical solutions or formulation, must be carefully handled to avoid drug exposure, specially in storage conditions.

Application of Quality by Design to optimize a stability-indicating LC method for the determination of ticagrelor and its impurities.

Simultaneous analysis of drug compounds and their impurities of degradation and synthesis became constant in the modern pharmaceutical analysis. Likewise, analytical techniques must improve sensitivity and selectivity for the monitoring of pharmaceutical products, allowing a full assessment of impurities in drug products and, therefore, ensure safety and efficacy of pharmacological treatments. The application of Quality by Design (QbD) principles has proved to be feasible on the elaboration of analytical methods, allowing the comprehensive evaluation and measurement of different analytical parameters and their effects on critical properties of the methodology in development. QbD approach was applied to the development of a fast and selective HPLC method for the analysis of the antiplatelet aggregation drug ticagrelor and its degradation products in presence of three impurities of synthesis. Fractional factorial resolution V was the screening experimental design applied to five method parameters. Response surface methodology was carried by central composite star face design on the two critical method parameters selected. Analytical design space, established after the application of Monte-Carlo simulations, verified whether predicted results were in accordance with critical quality attributes. The developed and validated HPLC method with DAD detection at 225 nm was able to resolve eight related compounds in less than three minutes.

UV Spectrophotometric method for determination of posaconazole: comparison to HPLC

The aim of this work was to develop a simple, fast and reproducible spectrophotometric method for the analysis of posaconazole in raw material. The established conditions were: methanol as extracting solvent, detection wavelength of 260 nm, Shimadzu double beam spectrophotometer 1800 model with 1 cm quartz cells. Linearity was demonstrated in the concentration range of 5.0 a 25.0 µg/mL (r = 0.9999). Reproducibility and intermediate precision were confirmed by low RSD values (0.49 to 0.82%). Accuracy, evaluated through recovery test, was adequate, with 98.20% of mean recovery. Specificity and robustness were also demonstrated. The mean amount found for samples was 100.82%. The proposed method was considered suitable for the intended purpose, mainly in routine analysis of quality control laboratories. When compared to the previously developed HPLC, no statistical difference was observed, what made the UV spectrophotometric method a reliable alternative.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um método espectrofotométrico simples, rápido e reprodutível para a análise de posaconazol na matéria-prima. As condições estabelecidas foram: metanol como solvente extrator, comprimento de onda de 260 nm e espectrofotômetro de duplo feixe Shimadzu, modelo 1800, com cubetas de quartzo de 1 cm. A linearidade foi demonstrada na faixa de concentração de 5,0 a 25,0 µg/mL (r = 0,9999). A reprodutibilidade e a precisão intermediária foram confirmadas pelos baixos valores de desvio padrão relativo (0,49 a 0,82%). A exatidão, avaliada pelo teste de recuperação, foi adequada, com recuperação média de 98,20%. A especificidade e a robustez também foram demonstradas. O teor médio encontrado nas amostras foi de 100,82%. O método proposto foi considerado adequado, principalmente para a análise de rotina em laboratórios de controle de qualidade. Quando comparado com o método por HPLC, não houve diferença estatística, o que torna o método por espectrofotometria UV uma alternativa segura.

Alkaloids in Erythrina by UPLC-ESI-MS and In Vivo Hypotensive Potential of Extractive Preparations.

Erythrina species are used in popular medicine as sedative, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive. In this work, we investigated the chemical composition of extracts obtained from leaves of E. falcata and E. crista-galli. The hypotensive potential of E. falcata and the mechanism of action were also studied. The extracts were obtained by maceration and infusion. The total content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids was estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The chemical constituents were studied performing a chromatographic analysis by UPLC-ESI-MS. For in vivo protocols, blood pressure and heart rate were measured by the invasive hemodynamic monitoring method. Different concentrations of extracts and drugs such as L-NAME, losartan, hexamethonium, and propranolol were administrated i.v. The results of total phenolic contents for E. falcata and E. crista-galli were 1.3193-1.4989 mgGAE/mL for maceration and 0.8771-0.9506 mgGAE/mL for infusion. In total flavonoids, the content was 7.7829-8.1976 mg RE/g for maceration and 9.3471-10.4765 RE mg/g for infusion. The chemical composition was based on alkaloids, suggesting the presence of erythristemine, 11ß-methoxyglucoerysodine, erysothiopine, 11ß-hydroxyerysodine-glucose, and 11-hydroxyerysotinone-rhamnoside. A potent dose-dependent hypotensive effect was observed for E. falcata, which may be related to the route of ß-adrenergic receptors.

Ecdysteroids in Sida tuberculata R.E. Fries (Malvaceae): chemical composition by LC-ESI-MS and selective anti-Candida krusei activity.

Sida tuberculata is found in a region of South America and has traditionally been consumed as an infusion or tea. The chemical composition and antifungal activity of aqueous infusions from leaves and roots were investigated. LC-ESI-MS mass spectra were successfully obtained and used to identify four ecdysteroids: 20-hydroxyecdysone-3-O-ß-D-glycopyranoside, 20-hydroxyecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone-3-O-ß-D-xylose and a hydroxyecdysterone derivative. The in vitro antifungal activity was studied, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) were established against Candida krusei isolates. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated by the determination of the biofilm removal efficiency in contaminated central venous catheter (CVC) coupons. The preparations exhibited antifungal activity against the species tested, with MICs ranging from 3.90 to 62.50 µg/ml. The infusion removed the C. krusei biofilm after 90 min of exposure. The observed bioactivity and composition of ecdysteroids will contribute to the future development of antifungal substances for clinical use or as food additives.

A versatile, stability-indicating and high-throughput ultra-fast liquid chromatography method for the determination of isoflavone aglycones in soybeans, topical formulations, and permeation assays.

There is a growing interest in the pharmaceutical field concerning isoflavones topical delivery systems, especially with regard to their skin care properties and antiherpetic activity. In this context, the present work describes an ultra-fast liquid chromatography method (UFLC) for determining daidzein, glycitein, and genistein in different matrices during the development of topical systems containing isoflavone aglycones (IA) obtained from soybeans. The method showed to be specific, precise, accurate, and linear (0.1 to 5 µg mL(-1)) for IA determination in soybean acid extract, IA-rich fraction obtained after the purification process, IA loaded-nanoemulsions, and topical hydrogel, as well as for permeation/retention assays in porcine skin and porcine esophageal mucosa. The matrix effect was determined for all complex matrices, demonstrating low effect during the analysis. The stability indicating UFLC method was verified by submitting IA to acidic, alkaline, oxidative, and thermal stress conditions, and no interference of degradation products was detected during analysis. Mass spectrometry was performed to show the main compounds produced after acid hydrolysis of soybeans, as well as suggest the main degradation products formed after stress conditions. Besides the IA, hydroxymethylfurfural and ethoxymethylfurfural were produced and identified after acid hydrolysis of the soybean extract and well separated by the UFLC method. The method's robustness was confirmed using the Plackett-Burman experimental design. Therefore, the new method affords fast IA analysis during routine processes, extract purification, products development, and bioanalytical assays.

Stability-indicating HPLC method for posaconazole bulk assay.

A stability-indicating liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed for the determination of posaconazole in bulk. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an isocratic elution in a reversed-phase system, with a mobile phase composed of methanol-water (75:25, v/v), at 1.0 mL min(-1) flow. Samples were exposed to degradation under thermal, oxidative and acid/basic conditions, and no interference in the analysis was observed. System suitability was evaluated and results were satisfactory (N = 4,900.00 tailing factor 1.04; RSD between injections = 0.65). The retention time of posaconazole was about 8.5 min and the method was validated within the concentration range 5-60 µg mL(-1) (r = 0.9996). Adequate results were obtained for repeatability (RSD % = 0.86-1.22), inter-day precision (RSD % = 1.21) and accuracy (98.13% mean recovery). Robustness was also determined to be satisfactory after evaluation. The proposed method was successfully applied to posaconazole bulk quantification, showing the method is useful for determination of the drug in routine analysis.

Structural elucidation of rabeprazole sodium photodegradation products.

Rabeprazole sodium is a proton pump inhibitor, used in acid-related disorders, like peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux. It is known to be an acid-labile drug, however, few data about its stability under other factors are available. The aim of this work was to study the photodegradation of rabeprazole, to determine its kinetics and to elucidate the structures of the main degradation products. UVC-254 nm and metal-halide lamps were used. The analysis of the samples was carried out by HPLC. When the drug was in methanol solution, one main degradation product was formed; the degradation rate followed zero-order kinetics. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic determinations revealed the product was the benzimidazolone. Another isolated product was identified as benzimidazole. The latter was confirmed against an authentic sample. A third photodegradation product was identified as the [4-(3-methoxy-propoxy)-3-methyl-pyridin-2-yl]methanol, by (1)H and (13)C NMR of the reaction mixture in chloroform-d. When powdered commercial tablets were exposed to UVC irradiation, they showed the same degradation products along with other unidentified, which appeared as traces; the degradation rate was slower than in solution. The intact tablets were stable after 50 days of exposition to the same light source.

Development and validation of a dissolution test for rabeprazole sodium in coated tablets.

The aim of this work is to develop and validate a dissolution test for rabeprazole sodium coated tablets using a reverse-phase liquid chromatographic method. After test sink conditions, dissolution medium and stability of the drug, the best conditions were: paddle at 75 rotations per minute (rpm) stirring speed, HCl 0.1 M and borate buffer pH 9.0 as dissolution medium for acidic and basic steps, respectively, volume of 900 ml for both. The quantitation method was also adapted and validated. Less than 10% of the label amount was released in the acid step, while more than 95% was achieved over 30 min in the basic one. The dissolution profile for tablets was considered satisfactory. The dissolution test developed was adequate for its purpose and could be applied for quality control of rabeprazole tablets, since there is no official monograph.

Validation of a capillary electrophoresis method for analysis of rabeprazole sodium in a pharmaceutical dosage form.

Rabeprazole sodium is an antisecretory agent that inhibits the enzyme H+/K+ ATPase present in the stomach parietal cells. There are few data about its quantitative determinations in laboratorial routines. Capillary electrophoresis is a method being used increasingly for analysis of pharmaceutical compounds, the main advantages of which are the simplicity of instrumentation, low consumption of sample and reagents, and fast analysis. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a capillary electrophoresis method for determination of rabeprazole sodium in coated tablets. The conditions used were a bare fused silica capillary with 48.0 cm length (39.5 cm effective) and 75 microm id; a 10mM, pH 9.0, sodium tetraborate run buffer; a diode array detector set at 291 nm; hydrodynamic injection (50 mbar/5 s); and a voltage of 20 kV. HP Chemstation CE rev. A.06.03 software was used for system control, data acquisition, and analysis. The method was demonstrated to be linear in the concentration range of 5.0-40.0 microg/mL (r = 0.9993), precise (interday relative standard deviation = 0.49), accurate (mean recovery = 103.1%), and specific. The limits of detection and quantitation were 1.29 and 3.91 microg/mL, respectively.

New liquid chromatographic method for determination of rabeprazole sodium in coated tablets.

Rabeprazole sodium is a proton pump inhibitor that covalently binds and inactivates the gastric parietal cell proton pump (H+/K+ ATPase). Little has been published about the quantitative determination of this drug. The aim of this research was to develop a new liquid chromatographic method for quantitative determination of rabeprazole in coated tablets. The system consisted of a Hypersil Keystone Betabasic C8 column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm particle size), an isocratic acetonitrile-water (35 + 65) mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and a diode array detector set at 282 nm. The following validation parameters were evaluated: linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, detection and quantitation limits, and robustness. The method showed good linearity in the concentration range of 10-70 microg/mL. The quantitation limit was 2.43 microg/mL, and the detection limit was 0.80 microg/mL. The intra- and interday precision data showed that the method has good reproducibility (relative standard deviation = 1.03). Accuracy and robustness were also evaluated, and the results were satisfactory. The mean recovery was 101.61%. The analysis of a placebo mixture demonstrated the method is also specific.