Simple fluorimetric method for determination of certain antiviral drugs via their oxidation with cerium (IV)

Development of Green and High-Throughput Microwell Spectrophotometric Methods for Determination of Galidesivir in Bulk Drug and Dosage Forms Based on Simple Oxidimetric Reactions With Inorganic Agents

BACKGROUND

Galidesivir hydrochloride (GDV) is a new potent and safe antiviral drug used for the treatment of a broad spectrum of viral diseases, including COVID-19. In the literature, no analytical method exists for the determination of GDV in bulk or dosage form.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was the investigation of oxidation reactions of GDV with five inorganic oxidizing reagents and the employment of the reactions in the development of five green microwell spectrophotometric methods (MW-SPMs) with simple procedure and high throughputs for determination of GDV in its bulk and dosage forms (capsules).

METHODS

The reactions were carried out in 96-well plates, and the absorbances of reaction solutions were measured by an absorbance microplate reader. Variables influencing the reactions were carefully investigated and optimized.

RESULTS

Under the refined optimum conditions, Beer's law with excellent correlation coefficients (0.9992-0.9997) was followed in GDV concentrations in a general range of 5-700 µg/mL, and the limits of detection were ≥1.8 µg/mL. All validation parameters of all methods were acceptable. The methods were successfully applied to the analysis of GDV in bulk drug and capsules with high accuracy and precision; the recovery percentages were 98.6-101.2 ± 0.58-1.14%. The greenness of MW-SPMs was evaluated by three comprehensive metric tools, which demonstrated the adherence of MW-SPMs to the principles of the green analytical chemistry (GAC) approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed MW-SPMs combined the advantages of microwell-based practice and the use of common laboratory reagents for the analysis. The advantages of microwell analysis were the high throughput, readily available for semi-automation, reduced samples/reagents volume, precise measurements, and versatility. The advantages of using common laboratory reagents were the availability, consistency, compatibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

HIGHLIGHTS

Overall, the proposed MW-SPMs are versatile, valuable tools for the quantitation of GDV during its pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric procedure for the assay of phenothiazine derivatives in the presence of their sulfoxide oxidized product

A validated straightforward and sensitive spectrofluorimetric procedure was developed to assay trifluoperazine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride, and perazine maleate. The procedure was dependent on oxidation of the investigated phenothiazines using a known excess of ammonium cerium sulfate as oxidizing agent and overseeing the fluorescence intensity of the resultant Ce³⁺ ion as the product of this reaction at λ_cx = 254 nm. and λ_em = 355 nm. Various parameters controlling the reaction were investigated and optimized. Linear calibration graphs were found in the general concentration range 5-30 ng/ml with a general correlation coefficient range 0.9994-0.9995. Limits of detection were 0.97, 0.70 and 0.56 ng/ml, whereas limits of quantification were 3.24, 2.12 and 1.89 ng/ml for trifluoperazine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride and perazine maleate, respectively. The procedure was implemented successfully for analyses of the cited drugs in their trade dosage preparations such as tablets and syrups. The effect of possible interference from common excipients and their sulfoxide oxidized product was studied and the procedure showed good recovery of the drugs under study in their available dosage preparations. The possible effect of structure variation of the studied drugs on the experimental conditions and sensitivity observed with each one was also discussed.

Acyclovir in the Treatment of Herpes Viruses – A Review

Background:

Herpes Simplex (HSV) viruses are widely spread, highly contagious human pathogens. The statistics indicate that 50-90% of adults worldwide are seropositive for these viruses, mainly HSV-1 and HSV-2. The primary infection results in the appearance of watery blisters (cold sores) on the skin, lips, tongue, buccal mucosa or genitals. The ocular infection is the major cause of corneal blindness in the Western World. Once the HSV virus enters human body, it cannot be completely eradicated because HSV viruses are able to change into their latent form which can survive the treatment. The viron resides in trigeminal ganglia of the host, who becomes vulnerable to the reoccurrence of the disease during the whole lifespan. The neurotropic and neuro-invasive properties of HSV are responsible for neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease. Acyclovir and its analogues, being the inhibitors of the viral DNA replication, are the only approved medicines for HSV infection therapies.

Objective:

The current paper presents the up-to-date overview of the important pharmacological features of acyclovir, its analogues and their delivery systems including the mechanism of action, routes of administration, absorption and metabolism, as well as side effects of the therapy.

Conclusion:

Acyclovir remains the gold standard in the treatment of herpes virus infections, mainly due to the emerging of the new delivery systems improving considerably its bioavailability. The analogues of acyclovir, especially their esters, characterized by significantly higher bioavailability and safety, may gradually replace acyclovir in selected applications.

A highly sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of cerium at pico-trace levels in some real, environmental, biological, soil, food and bone samples using 2-(α-pyridyl)-thioquinaldinamide

A very simple, ultra-sensitive and highly selective non-extractive new spectrofluorimetric method is presented for the determination of cerium at pico-trace levels using 2-(α-pyridyl)-thioquinaldinamide (PTQA). PTQA has been proposed as a new analytical reagent for the direct non-extractive spectrofluorimetric determination of cerium(iv). This novel fluorimetric reagent, PTQA becomes oxidized in a slightly acidic (0.0005-0.0015 M H2SO4) solution with cerium(iv) in absolute ethanol to produce a highly fluorescent oxidized product (λ ex = 303 nm; λ em = 370 nm). Constant and maximum fluorescence intensities were observed over a wide range of acidity (0.0005-0.0015 M H2SO4) for the period between 5 min and 24 h. Linear calibration graphs were obtained for 0.001-600 μg L-1 of Ce, having a detection limit of 0.1 ng L-1; the quantification limit of the reaction system was found to be 1 ng L-1 and the RSD was 0-2%. A large excess of over 60 cations, anions and complexing agents (like, chloride, phosphate, azide, tartrate, oxalate, SCN- etc.) do not interfere in the determination. The developed method was successfully used in the determination of cerium in several certified reference materials (alloys, steels, noodles, ores and sediments) as well as in some environmental waters (potable and polluted), biological fluids (human blood, urine and milk), soil samples, food samples (vegetable, rice, corn and wheat), bone samples (human, cow, bull, fish, hen, goat, sheep), solutions containing both cerium(iii) and cerium(iv) and complex. The results of the proposed method for assessing biological, food and vegetables samples were comparable with ICP-OES and were found to be in excellent agreement.

Preparation, characterization and molecular modeling studies of the beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex with benzoguanamine and its analytical application as chemosensor for the selective sensing of Ce4

The inclusion complex of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with benzoguanamine (BGA) has been investigated in three states. UV-Visible and fluorescence spectral techniques are used in liquid state. FTIR, NMR and MASS techniques are used in solid state and virtual state studies are done by molecular simulation work. The binding constants for the formation of 1:1 BGA:β-CD inclusion complex is estimated by UV-Visible and fluorescence spectral techniques. The chemosensory ability of BGA:β-CD complex was investigated thoroughly for various metal cations and we found the emission of complex showed a linear increase in the intensity for Ce⁴⁺ with the linearity range of 1000 μM-2000 μM. Sensitivity analysis shows good sensing for Ce⁴⁺ with the LOD of 671 μM and LOQ of 2034 μM. Our result suggests that the BGA:β-CD inclusion complex would be promising material for developing solid state sensory device for sensing Ce⁴⁺.

A Highly Selective and Strong Anti-Interference Host-Guest Complex as Fluorescent Probe for Detection of Amantadine by Indicator Displacement Assay

Amantadine (AMA) and its derivatives are illicit veterinary drugs that are hard to detect at very low concentrations. Developing a fast, simple and highly sensitive method for the detection of AMA is highly in demand. Here, we designed an anthracyclic compound (ABAM) that binds to a cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) host with a high association constant of up to 8.7 × 10⁸ M⁻¹. The host-guest complex was then used as a fluorescent probe for the detection of AMA. Competition by AMA for occupying the cavity of CB[7] allows ABAM to release from the CB[7]-ABAM complex, causing significant fluorescence quenching of ABAM (indicator displacement assay, IDA). The linear range of the method is from 0.000188 to 0.375 μg/mL, and the detection limit can be as low as 6.5 × 10⁻⁵ μg/mL (0.35 nM). Most importantly, due to the high binding affinity between CB[7] and ABAM, this fluorescence host-guest system shows great anti-interference capacity. Thus, we are able to accurately determine the concentration of AMA in various samples, including pharmaceutical formulations.

Application of Cerium (IV) as an Oxidimetric Agent for the Determination of Ethionamide in Pharmaceutical Formulations

Two simple methods are described for the determination of ethionamide (ETM) in bulk drug and tablets using cerium (IV) sulphate as the oxidimetric agent. In both methods, the sample solution is treated with a measured excess of cerium (IV) solution in H₂SO₄ medium, and after a fixed standing time, the residual oxidant is determined either by back titration with standard iron (II) solution to a ferroin end point in titrimetry or by reacting with o-dianisidine followed by measurement of the absorbance of the orange-red coloured product at 470 nm in spectrophotometry. In titrimetry, the reaction proceeded with a stoichiometry of 1 : 2 (ETM : Ce (IV)) and the amount of cerium (IV) consumed by ETM was related to the latter's amount, and the method was applicable over 1.0–8.0 mg of drug. In spectrophotometry, Beer's law was obeyed over the concentration range of 0.5–5.0 μg/mL ETM with a molar absorptivity value of 2.66 × 10⁴ L/(mol·cm). The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) calculated according to ICH guidelines were 0.013 and 0.043 μg/mL, respectively. The proposed titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods were found to yield reliable results when applied to bulk drug and tablets analysis, and hence they can be applied in quality control laboratories.

Combination of homogenous liquid–liquid extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for extraction and preconcentration of amantadine from biological samples followed by its indirect determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new and simple procedure has been developed for the indirect determination of amantadine in biological samples.

Determination of amantadine and rimantadine using a sensitive fluorescent probe

Amantadine hydrochloride (AMA) and rimantadine hydrochloride (RIM) are non-fluorescent in aqueous solutions. This property makes their determination through direct fluorescent method difficult. The competing reactions and the supramolecular interaction mechanisms between the two drugs and coptisine (COP) as they fight for occupancy of the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) cavity, were studied using spectrofluorimetry, (1)H NMR, and molecular modeling calculations. Based on the significant quenching of the supramolecular complex fluorescence intensity, a fluorescent probe method of high sensitivity and selectivity was developed to determine AMA or RIM in their pharmaceutical dosage forms and in urine samples with good precision and accuracy. The linear range of the method was from 0.0040 to 1.0 μg mL(-1) with a detection limit ranging from 0.0012 to 0.0013 μg mL(-1). This shows that the proposed method has promising potential for therapeutic monitoring and pharmacokinetics and for clinical application.

Selective Spectrophotometric and Spectrofluorometric Methods for the Determination of Amantadine Hydrochloride in Capsules and Plasma via Derivatization with 1,2-Naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate

New selective and sensitive spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric methods have been developed and validated for the determination of amantadine hydrochloride (AMD) in capsules and plasma. The methods were based on the condensation of AMD with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate (NQS) in an alkaline medium to form an orange-colored product. The spectrophotometric method involved the measurement of the colored product at 460  nm. The spectrofluorometric method involved the reduction of the product with potassium borohydride, and the subsequent measurement of the formed fluorescent reduced AMD-NQS product at 382  nm after excitation at 293  nm. The variables that affected the reaction were carefully studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, linear relationships with good correlation coefficients (0.9972–0.9974) and low LOD (1.39 and 0.013 μg mL⁻¹) were obtained in the ranges of 5–80 and 0.05–10  μg mL⁻¹ for the spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric methods, respectively. The precisions of the methods were satisfactory; RSD ≤2.04%. Both methods were successfully applied to the determination of AMD in capsules. As its higher sensitivity, the spectrofluorometric method was applied to the determination of AMD in plasma; the recovery was 96.3–101.2 ± 0.57–4.2%. The results obtained by the proposed methods were comparable with those obtained by the official method

Assay and stability-indicating micellar electrokinetic chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of valacyclovir, acyclovir and their major impurity guanine in pharmaceutical formulations

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method for the simultaneous determination of the antiviral drugs acyclovir and valacyclovir and their major impurity, guanine, was developed. The influences of several factors (surfactant and buffer concentration, pH, applied voltage, capillary temperature and injection time) were studied. Using tyramine hydrochloride as internal standard, the analytes were all separated in about 4 min. The separation was carried out in reversed polarity mode at 28 degrees C, 25 kV and using hydrodynamic injection (15 s). The separation was effected in a fused-silica capillary 100 microm x 56 cm and a background electrolyte of 20 mM citric acid-1 M Tris solution (pH 2.75), containing 125 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate and detection at 254 nm. The method was validated with respect to linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision and selectivity. Calibration curves were linear over the range 0.1-1 microg/mL (guanine) and from 0.1 to 120 microg/mL for both valacyclovir and acyclovir. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day migration times and corrected peak areas were less than 5.0%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of the analytes in tablets and creams. From the previous study it is concluded that the stability-indicating method developed for acyclovir and valacyclovir can be used for analysis of the drug in various stability samples.

New spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods for determination of fluoxetine in pharmaceutical formulations

New simple and sensitive spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods have been developed and validated for the determination of fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLX) in its pharmaceutical formulations. The spectrophotometric method was based on the reaction of FLX with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate (NQS) in an alkaline medium (pH 11) to form an orange-colored product that was measured at 490 nm. The fluorimetric method was based on the reaction of FLX with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl) in an alkaline medium (pH 8) to form a highly fluorescent product that was measured at 545 nm after excitation at 490 nm. The variables affecting the reactions of FLX with both NQS and NBD-Cl were carefully studied and optimized. The kinetics of the reactions were investigated, and the reaction mechanisms were presented. Under the optimum reaction conditions, good linear relationships were found between the readings and the concentrations of FLX in the ranges of 0.3–6 and 0.035–0.5 μg mL⁻¹ for the spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.1 and 0.01 μg mL⁻¹ for the spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods, respectively. Both methods were successfully applied to the determination of FLX in its pharmaceutical formulations.

Mucoadhesive microspheres for gastroretentive delivery of acyclovir: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the potential use of mucoadhesive microspheres for gastroretentive delivery of acyclovir. Chitosan, thiolated chitosan, Carbopol 71G and Methocel K15M were used as mucoadhesive polymers. Microsphere formulations were prepared using emulsion-chemical crosslinking technique and evaluated in vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo. Gelatin capsules containing drug powder showed complete dissolution (90.5 +/- 3.6%) in 1 h. The release of drug was prolonged to 12 h (78.8 +/- 3.9) when incorporated into mucoadhesive microspheres. The poor bioavailability of acyclovir is attributed to short retention of its dosage form at the absorption sites (in upper gastrointestinal tract to duodenum and jejunum). The results of mucoadhesion study showed better retention of thiolated chitosan microspheres (8.0 +/- 0.8 h) in duodenal and jejunum regions of intestine. The results of qualitative and quantitative GI distribution study also showed significant higher retention of mucoadhesive microspheres in upper GI tract. Pharmacokinetic study revealed that administration of mucoadhesive microspheres could maintain measurable plasma concentration of acyclovir through 24 h, as compared to 5 h after its administration in solution form. Thiolated chitosan microsphere showed superiority over the other formulations as observed with nearly 4.0-fold higher AUC(0-24) value (1,090 +/- 51 ng h/ml) in comparison to drug solution (281 +/- 28 ng h/ml). Overall, the result indicated prolonged delivery with significant improvement in oral bioavailability of acyclovir from mucoadhesive microspheres due to enhanced retention in the upper GI tract.

Ribavirin: Analytical determinations since the origin until today

Ribavirin (RV) (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide), is a synthetic purine nucleoside analog with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity. To better understand the mechanism of action of RV, as well as its pharmacokinetic characteristics, an assay that can allow specific, sensitive, and accurate measurement of RV in biologic samples is critical. In this way, diverse analytical methods have been established. In this work, we have recompiled these methods with the aim to present the different options for the RV determination.

Fluorimetric Determination of Cerium(IV) with Ascorbic Acid

A simple, sensitive, and selective method for the determination of cerium(IV), based on the oxidative reaction between cerium(IV) and ascorbic acid, has been described. The fluorescence comes from Ce(III) at lambda(excitation) 298 nm and lambda(emission) 358 nm, which, in turn, is obtained from the oxidation of ascorbic acid by Ce(IV) in the presence of sulfuric acid. The optimum conditions such as concentrations of ascorbic acid, sulfuric acid media and pH of the buffer solution were investigated. The fluorescent intensity of the system is linear over the range 0.0531 microg/ml to 0.3322 mg/ml Ce(IV) and detection limit and correlation coefficient are 0.0145 microg/ml and R=0.99987, respectively.