A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for nicotine in transdermal patches

Emerging trends in functional materials for electrochemical sensors in nicotine determination

In the past year, there has been significant progress in the utilization of electrochemical strategies for the determination of harmful substances. Among those, the electrochemical determination of nicotine (NIC) has continued to be of significant interest ascribed to the global health concern of e-cigarette products, nowadays. Electrochemical sensors have become promising tools for the detection of NIC ascribed to their high sensitivity, selectivity, and ease of use. This review article provides a concise overview of the advanced developments in electrochemical sensors for NIC detection using modified functional materials such as carbon-based materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOF), MXene, polymer, and metallic based modifiers. The sensitivity of electrochemical sensors can be improved by modifying them with these conductive materials ascribed to their physical and chemical properties. The review also addresses the challenges and future perspectives in the field, including sensitivity and selectivity improvements, stability and reproducibility issues, integration with data analysis techniques, and emerging trends. In conclusion, this review article may be of interest to researchers intending to delve into the development of functional electrochemical sensors in future studies.

A Stability Indicating HPLC Method to Determine Actual Content and Stability of Nicotine within Electronic Cigarette Liquids

(1) Background: Despite the growing use of e-cigarettes, in most countries, there is no regulation covering manufacturing standards of the solution ('e-liquid'), leading to concerns over the accuracy of labelling and stability of the products under a range of conditions. Following the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for manufacture of e-liquids, we aimed to develop a simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to determine nicotine content in nicotine-containing e-liquids, even in the presence of degradation products; (2) Methods: We developed an HPLC method to quantify nicotine in the presence of the two major constituents of all e-liquids, glycerine and propylene glycol, and in the presence of degradation products; (3) Results: Our HPLC method performed strongly and was validated it according to international guidelines. For the e-liquids tested, nicotine content levels were all higher than labelled (up to 117.9 ± 1.87% of the labelled content). While nicotine was shown to be unstable at 60 °C, it was stabilized at this temperature in the e-liquid formulations for up to 10 days; and (4) Conclusions: The HPLC method is suitable for adoption by laboratories to determine the actual content and stability of nicotine-containing products. The higher than labelled nicotine levels in e-liquids raises clinical and public health concerns.

In vitro evaluation of transdermal nicotine delivery systems commercially available in Brazil

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for evaluating the release and skin permeation from transdermal nicotine patches using the vertical diffusion cell (VDC). The VDC is an experimental apparatus employed in research, development, and the pharmaceutical field because it can simulate conditions closest to those established in clinical trials. Two transdermal nicotine delivery systems marketed in Brazil to release 14 mg over 24 hours were evaluated. Release studies were carried out using a regenerated cellulose dialysis membrane and permeation studies were carried out using excised porcine ear skin. The results indicated that nicotine release from both evaluated patches follows Higuchi's release kinetics, while skin permeation studies indicated zero-order release kinetics. Nicotine release rates were different between both evaluated patches, but drug permeation rates were not significantly different. According to validation studies, the method was appropriate for evaluating in vitro performance of nicotine patches. The proposed method can be applied to in vitro comparative studies between different commercial nicotine patches and may be used as an auxiliary tool in the design of new transdermal nicotine delivery systems.

Development of transdermal system containing nicotine by using sustained release dosage design

This study was carried out to develop a membrane-controlled transdermal formulation (TF) of nicotine by using sustained release dosage design (SRDD). TFs were prepared with polyethylene membrane as a rate-controlling barrier; a carbomer was used as the gel reservoir with or without propylene glycol (PG). The in vitro target flux (0.0535 mg cm(-2) h(-1)) was calculated according to SRDD calculations. Nicotine permeation through the membrane with or without transfer adhesive was also studied using diffusion cells. Nicotine permeated through membrane (without adhesive) with a flux of 0.0555 mg cm(-2) h(-1) and this value was similar to that of the in vitro target flux. The release from the TFs and from a commercial product (Nicotinell, 52.5 mg 30 cm(-2)) was studied using the FDA paddle method. The nicotine amount was increased from 22.7 to 56.5 mg in gel reservoir, and a plateau was reached beyond 45.4 mg of drug; the system attained the maximum thermodynamic activity with 56.5 mg of nicotine. The release rate from TFs (without adhesive layer) containing PG in the reservoir was very similar to the target release rate (1.07 mg h(-1)). The fluxes of nicotine from Nicotinell and TF containing 45.4 mg of nicotine were close to the in vitro target release rate.

A validated high performance liquid chromatographic method for analysis of nicotine in pure form and from formulations

A reverse phase HPLC method using C18 column has been developed for the quantitative estimation of nicotine in the bulk material and formulations (extended release and immediate release dosage forms). The method is specific to nicotine (RT approximately 4.64 min, asymmetry approximately 1.75), and can resolve analyte peak from excipient interferences. It is linear (coefficient of variation approximately 0.9993), accurate (average recovery approximately 100%), and passed all the system suitability requirements. Applicability of the method was evaluated in analysis of drug-excipient compatibility samples, commercial dosage form (such as nicotine gum) and two novel in-house formulations.

Development and validation of a gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for S(-)-2-(N-propyl-N-2-thienylethylamino)-5-hydroxytetralin (N-0923) from a transdermal delivery system

A gradient reversed-phase HPLC method for potency determination of N-0923 (10 mg) from a transdermal delivery system (TDS), was developed and validated with single point calibration using internal standard quantitation. N-0923 and the internal standard, N-0434, are eluted from a reversed-phase C18 column using a gradient which contains 0.1 M triethylamine-0.04 M citrate buffer, pH 5.9, water, and acetonitrile with UV detection at 272 nm. N-0923 is isolated from the transdermal delivery system by extraction with n-heptane followed by extraction of the resulting organic phase with 0.1 M citric acid containing the internal standard. The method was free from matrix interferences in both untreated and forced degraded placebo delivery systems. Acceptable linearity and quantitative recovery from spiked placebo delivery systems over the range 50-150% of nominal label claim were demonstrated. Within-day assay precision from individual samples of active transdermal delivery systems (n = 10) was 5.6% R.S.D. The detection limit was at least 0.1 microgram/ml which is equivalent to 0.05% of the working standard concentration. Replicate injection precision at this level was 0.08% R.S.D. (n = 4). Analysis of thermally stressed active and placebo delivery systems with this HPLC method and photodiode-array detection showed that the chromatography was stability-indicating as demonstrated by the absence of measurable interferences from principal degradation products of either the n-0923 or the delivery system excipients.