Comparative risk assessment study of elemental impurities in Montelukast chewable tablets and film-coated tablets

It is well documented that elemental impurities (EIs) are critical in the field of pharmaceutical development since they could affect the quality, efficacy and safety of the finished dosage form (FDF). The responsibility of pharmaceutical manufacturers is to demonstrate via assessment approach, risk-based control strategy and/or required data analysis that the FDFs are compliant with ICH Q3D (R2). The aim of this research is to conduct a comprehensive comparative EIs risk assessment study of three different Montelukast dosage forms produced as chewable tablets (4 mg and 5 mg) and film-coated tablets 10 mg. The inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) system was used for the determination of EIs in samples of Montelukast sodium as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), placebos for all FDFs, and FDFs. Moreover, the analyses were also conducted on three batches from all three studied FDFs. Based on ICH Q3D (R2) guidelines, the tested products for EIs Class 1 and Class 2A showed that EIs levels in the API and placebos are well below the ICH Option 1 oral and parenteral limits. For the examined batches of each FDF strength (total of 9), none of the EI exceeds their concentration limits

Design of Experiments (DoE)-based approach for improvement of dry mixing processes in the production of low-dose Alprazolam tablets using Raman spectroscopy for content uniformity monitoring

A low-dose tablet formulation, containing a potent Benzodiazepine derivative Alprazolam was developed, considering the achievement of appropriate content uniformity of the active substance in powder blends and tablets as a major challenge. Two different types of lactose monohydrate (Tablettose 80 and Granulac 200) and two different types of dry mixing processes (high-shear mixing and "in bulk" mixing) were employed. To evaluate the influence of the variables (mixing speed, mixing time, filling level of the high-shear and cube mixer, lactose monohydrate type) and their interactions upon the response (content uniformity of Alprazolam in the powder blends), a Factorial 2 4 design (with 4 factors at 2 levels in 1 block) was generated for each type of mixer. For high-shear dry mixing the Response Surface, D-optimal Factorial 2 4 design (with 2 replications and 31 experiments) was used, while for the "in bulk" dry mixing the Response Surface, Central Composite Factorial 2 4 design (with 34 experiments) was used. The process parameters for the high-shear mixer were varied within the following ranges: filling level of 70-100%, impeller mixing speed of 50-300 rpm and mixing time of 2-10 minutes. For the cube mixer the following process parameter ranges were employed: filling level of 30-60%, mixing speed of 20-390 rpm and mixing time of 2-10 minutes. Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with a validated Partial Least Square (PLS) regression model was used as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tool for Alprazolam content determination and content uniformity monitoring. The DoE model was further employed to optimize the powder blending process in regard to the achievement of appropriate Alprazolam content uniformity using high-shear mixing and Tabletosse 80 as filler. The desirability function revealed that the following process parameters: a mixing time of 2 minutes, a mixing speed of 300 rpm and a 70% filling level of the mixer would produce powder blends with the lowest variability in Alprazolam content. The three independent lab batches of low-dose Alprazolam tablets, produced with high-shear mixing using these process parameters, conformed to the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia for content (assay) of Alprazolam and uniformity of the dosage units

Concepts for New Rapid Simple HPLC Method for Quantification of Fosfomycin Trometamol in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms with Direct UV Detection

Two different concepts for developing direct HPLC-UV methods for quantifying fosfomycin trometamol were developed without any derivatization and modification of the analyte. In the first concept, without the use of alkylamines as ion-pairs in the mobile phase, by using cyanopropyl CN and a strong anion-exchanger column, we investigated the possibility of their highly polar and anion-exchanging forces and mechanisms to retain, separate and detect trometamol without the help of additional agents or modifiers. In the second concept, the most frequent reversed-phase C18 columns with different characteristics and vendors were tested in combination with different length-based alkylamines with 3–10 C atoms in their chains. In our research, we found that the ion-pairing of fosfomycin with 6–10 C-atom-based alkyl-length of aliphatic chains manifested the most appropriate strength of interactions between alkyl-paired trometamol molecules and octadecylsilane or C18 bonded RP column to achieve optimal retention, selectivity and peak shape on chromatograms, with the possibility for the fine-tuning of elution time. The simplicity of our method concept omits the need for expensive and sophisticated columns like HILIC, C30 graphite carbon, and mixed-mode-based columns for easier retaining, separation, and determination of fosfomycin, and for its quantification purposes, especially in high-throughput analyses in regular quality-control laboratories

Concepts for New Rapid Simple HPLC Method for Quantification of Fosfomycin Trometamol in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms with Direct UV Detection

Two different concepts for developing direct HPLC-UV methods for quantifying fosfomycin trometamol were developed without any derivatization and modification of the analyte. In the first concept, without the use of alkylamines as ion-pairs in the mobile phase, by using cyanopropyl CN and a strong anion-exchanger column, we investigated the possibility of their highly polar and anion-exchanging forces and mechanisms to retain, separate and detect trometamol without the help of additional agents or modifiers. In the second concept, the most frequent reversed-phase C18 columns with different characteristics and vendors were tested in combination with different length-based alkylamines with 3–10 C atoms in their chains. In our research, we found that the ion-pairing of fosfomycin with 6–10 C-atom-based alkyl-length of aliphatic chains manifested the most appropriate strength of interactions between alkyl-paired trometamol molecules and octadecylsilane or C18 bonded RP column to achieve optimal retention, selectivity and peak shape on chromatograms, with the possibility for the fine-tuning of elution time. The simplicity of our method concept omits the need for expensive and sophisticated columns like HILIC, C30 graphite carbon, and mixed-mode-based columns for easier retaining, separation, and determination of fosfomycin, and for its quantification purposes, especially in high-throughput analyses in regular quality-control laboratories

Development of a Novel, Fast, Simple HPLC Method for Determination of Atorvastatin and its Impurities in Tablets

Our main target and concept was to develop a method for the determination of the most prescribed antilipemic drug, atorvastatin, together with its related substances, with a single sample preparation and during a single chromatographic run, in the shortest possible period of time, with the lowest possible mobile phase consumption. A new rapid, simple chromatographic method for the determination of atorvastatin and its main specified impurities was developed, using different chromatographic columns. With this new concept of a mobile phase and a powerful core–shell, or a superficially porous silica-based column, satisfactory results for targeted parameters, such as critical peak resolution, run time length, and column backpressure, were achieved. The analysis is performed within a run duration of less than 15 min, which is about six times shorter than the official European Pharmacopoeia method. The chromatogram performances suggests that the method limit of quantification (LOQ) can be about 7 times lower, and the limit of detection (LOD) about 20 times lower, using an injection volume of only 2 µl. This was confirmed by the performed method validation in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guideline for the validation of analytical procedures Q2(R1), where the selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of quantification, and limit of detection were tested and confirmed

Застосування солей хаотропних аніонів в розробці верх методики визначення мельдонію в лікарських формах

The aim of the work was to create an approach for the development of HPLC methods for the determination of meldonium in dosage forms with the usage of salts of chaotropic anions in mobile phases. Material and methods. Analytical equipment: Shimadzu UPLC system LC-40 PDA; Shimadzu Nexera-i LC-2040C 3D-Plus, controlled by software Lab Solution version 5.97, electronic laboratory balance RAD WAG AS 200/C, pH-meter I-160MI. Meldonium dihydrate (purity 99.3 %) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Switzerland), and Vasopro capsules 500 mg were purchased from a local pharmacy. Chromatographic conditions: Agilent Zorbax C-18 SB 150 mm x 4.6 mm 3.5 μm column was used (Agilent Technologies, USA). Mobile phases: 1) 0.25 % KPF6 w/v – 0.1 % v/v 85 %H3PO4 95 % – 5 % ACN, 2) 0.3 % bis-(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt 97 % w/v – 0.1 %v/v 85 % H3PO4 80 % – 20 % acetonitrile. Flow rate - 1mL/min, T=32 °C, detection UV=at 4 channels - 190 nm, 195 nm, 200 nm, 205 nm. Results and discussion. We have proposed two approaches using two different salts of chaotropic anions - potassium hexafluorophosphate and bis-(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt – for the HPLC method development. The chaotropic effects of these anions toward meldonium strongly influenced the analyte migratory behaviour. Both mobile phases involved, in addition to the use of a chaotrope, also the use of acetonitrile and pH adjustment with 0.1 % v/v 85 % H3PO4 solution. The detection wavelength (190 nm, 195 nm, 200 nm, 205 nm) was selected experimentally. The results were obtained for 8 concepts. Parameters of the chromatographic system confirm the conclusions and results of this investigation for the influence of chaotropic salts on N-containing molecules in an acidic pH medium, by increasing their retentivity and improving peak shape and uniformity homogeneity, even on the column without end-capping and base-deactivating. Validation of the analytical method was carried out following the requirements of SPhU. Conclusions. HPLC methods for the determination of meldonium in dosage forms have been developed, using positive impacts of chaotropic salts on the molecules containing N-atoms in their molecule on their retentions and peak symmetries on the chromatogram. The validation of the analytical methods showed their suitability for pharmaceutical analysisМетою роботи було створення підходів до розробки ВЕРХ методик визначення мельдонію в лікарських формах з використанням солей хаотропних аніонів у складі рухомих фаз. Матеріали і методи. Аналітичне обладнання: Shimadzu UPLC system LC-40 PDA; Shimadzu Nexera-i LC-2040C 3D-Plus, що керується програмним забезпеченням Lab Solution версія 5.97, ваги лабораторні електронні RAD WAG AS 200/C, pH-метр И-160МИ. Мельдонію дигідрат (чистота 99,3 %) закуплено у компанії Sigma-Aldrich (Швейцарія), «Вазопро» капсули по 500 мг закупляли у місцевій аптеці. Хроматографічні умови: використовували колонку Agilent Zorbax C-18 SB 150 мм x 4.6 мм 3.5 мкм (Agilent Technologies, США). Рухомі фази: 1) 0.25 % KPF6 w/v – 0.1 % w/v 85 % H3PO4 95 % – 5 % ACN, 2) 0.3 % біс-(трифторметан)сульфонімід літієвої солі 97 % w/v – 0.1 % v/v 85 % H3PO4 80 % – 20 % ацетонітрилу. Швидкість потоку – 1 мл/хв, T=32 °C, детектування УФ на 4 довжинах хвиль - 190 нм, 195 нм, 200 нм, 205 нм.Результати і обговорення. Для розробки методики ВЕРХ ми запропонували два підходи з використанням двох різних солей хаотропних аніонів – гексафторфосфату калію та біс-(трифторметан)сульфоніміду літієвої солі. Хаотропний вплив цих аніонів на мельдоній сильно вплинув на міграційну поведінку аналіту. Обидві рухомі фази включали, крім використання хаотропу, також використання ацетонітрилу та регулювання рН за допомогою 0.1 % об./об. 85 % розчину H3PO4. Довжини хвиль детектування (190 нм, 195 нм, 200 нм, 205 нм) підбирали експериментально. Результати отримано для 8 концепцій. Параметри хроматографічної системи підтверджують висновки та результати цього дослідження щодо впливу хаотропних солей на N-вмісну молекулу в кислому середовищі pH, збільшуючи їх здатність до утримування та покращуючи форму піку і рiвномiрну одноріднiсть, навіть на колонці без кінцевого закриття та дезактивації основи. Валідацію аналітичної методики проведено відповідно до вимог ДФУ.Висновки. Розроблено ВЕРХ методики визначення мельдонію в лікарських формах з використанням позитивного впливу хаотропних солей на молекули, що містять N-атоми, на їх утримування та симетрії піків на хроматограмі. Валідація аналітичних методик показала їх придатність для цілей фармацевтичного аналізу