Quality by design (QbD) based development and validation of an HPLC method for amiodarone hydrochloride and its impurities in the drug substance

Drilling into "Quality by Design" Approach for Analytical Methods

The need for consistency in analytical method development reinforces the dependence of pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing on robust analytical data. The Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD), akin to the product Quality by Design (QbD) endows a high degree of confidence to the method quality developed. AQbD involves the definition of the analytical target profile as starting point, followed by the identification of critical method variables and critical analytical attributes, supported on risk assessment and design of experiment tools for the establishment of a method operable design region and control strategy of the method. This systematic approach moves away from reactive troubleshooting to proactive failure reduction. The objective of this review is to highlight the elements of the AQbD framework and provide an overview of their implementation status in various analytical methods used in the pharmaceutical field. These methodologies include but are not limited to, high-performance liquid chromatography, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, capillary electrophoresis, supercritical fluid chromatography, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Finally, a critical appraisal is provided to highlight how regulators have encouraged AQbD principles application to boost the prevention of method failures and a better understanding of the method operable design region (MODR) and control strategy, ultimately resulting in cost-effectiveness and regulatory flexibility.

Application of QbD based approach in development and validation of RP-HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of methotrexate and baicalin in dual-drug-loaded liposomes

The present study delineates the development of a novel, rugged and sensitive stability-indicating risk-based HPLC method for the concurrent estimation of methotrexate (MTX) and baicalin (BCL) in dual-drug-loaded-nanopharmaceuticals based on an analytical quality-by-design approach. Preliminary screening trials along with systemic risk analysis were performed, endeavouring to explicate the critical method attributes, namely pH, percentage of orthophosphoric acid and percentage of acetonitrile, that influence the critical quality attributes. Box-Behnken design was utilized for the optimization of the tailing factor as the response for MTX and BCL in a short run time. The chromatographic conditions were optimized by performing 17 experimental runs using design expert software. The chromatographic conditions were selected after the analysis of the optimized zone within the confines of the design space: water:acetonitrile adjusted to a pH of 3.0 with 0.05% orthophosphoric acid (60:40, %v/v) was the mobile phase, the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min and an analytical C₁₈ column was used at an isobestic wavelength of 282 nm. Furthermore, the optimized method was validated in accordance with the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guidelines and was found to be within the prescribed limits. Therefore, the developed reversed-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography method has a high degree of practical utility for synchronous detection of MTX and BCL in pharmaceutical nano-dosage forms such as protein-based nanoparticles, nanocrystals, polymeric nanoparticles and metallic nanoparticles in in vivo and in vitro studies.

Quality by design-based development and validation of an HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of pregabalin and piperine in dual drug-loaded liposomes

The current research work describes the development of a rapid HPLC method for the concurrent detection of pregabalin and piperine in dual drug-loaded nanoformulations. The primary goal was to recognize the chromatographic conditions wherein propitious segregation of the integrants with quality peaks can be attained. An attempt to expound the target analytical profile was made to accomplish this goal, and critical method attributes (CMAs), viz. percentage acetonitrile content, injection volume and pH, which affect critical quality attributes (CQAs), were identified using systemic risk analysis. Box-Behnken design was employed to develop a relationship between CMAs and CQAs, which engenders an analytical design space. Efficient chromatographic separation for pregabalin and piperine was attained using an analytical C₁₈ column and mobile phase comprising acetonitrile-water (pH 6.9; 70:30%, v/v) in an isocratic elution mode with a 1 ml/min flow rate. The elution was descried at an isosbestic wavelength of 221 nm using a photodiode array detector. The International Conference on Harmonization guidelines were adopted for the developed HPLC method. The validated HPLC method can be further utilized for the simultaneous quantification and detection of pregabalin and piperine in other lipid-based nanopharmaceuticals such as polymeric nanoparticles, nanocrystals, solid-lipid nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, etc., in in vitro and in vivo studies.

Determination of Bupropion and Its Impurities via a Chaotropic Chromatography Method Following Analytical Quality-by-Design Principles for Method Development

A novel chaotropic chromatography method for the quantitative determination of bupropion and its impurities, following analytical quality-by-design (AQbD) principles, is presented. The analytical target profile (ATP) was defined on the basis of the efficient separation and reliable determination of bupropion and its five impurities in tablets. Preliminary experiments revealed the need for the addition of a gradient elution part. A screening fractional factorial experimental design was employed to select the critical method parameters (CMPs) and a Box–Behnken design (BBD) was utilized to investigate their influence on predefined critical method attributes (CMAs). In order to compute the design space (DS), where CMPs meet predefined acceptance limits with a high level of probability (π ≥ 85%), Monte Carlo simulations were performed. The working point selected from the DS corresponded to the following conditions: 37.5% acetonitrile at the start of the gradient program (up to 70% at the end of the gradient program), 45 mM of potassium hexafluorophosphate in the water phase, and the start of the linear gradient step in the gradient program at 10 min. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines and applied to the analysis of Wellbutrin^® tablets containing bupropion hydrochloride.

Ginsenoside Contents in Ginseng: Quality by Design-Coupled Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography Technique

Red ginseng and white ginseng, with different chemical constituents, exhibit different antioxidative, anticancer, antiasthmatic and immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to determine the amount of ginsenoside contents (Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd and Ro) in red and white ginseng. A rapid and comprehensive method was developed using the quality-by-design (QbD) and heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) techniques. The temperature (25°C), mobile phase constituent (0.1%H3PO4), flow rate (0.35 mL/min) and concentrations of the final (45%) and initial (19.5%) organic solvents were optimized to efficient chromatography-based isolation method. The gradient program was optimized by QbD Fusion AE system. A selective column (Thermo Acclaim RSLC Polar Advantage II 2.2 μm, 100 × 2.1 mm) was used for the studies. The ginsenoside Rb1, Rc and Ro exhibiting poor separation resolution were separated using the heart-cutting 2D-LC technique. The average Rb1, Rb2 and Rc contents in red ginseng were significantly higher than the average Rb1, Rb2 and Rc contents in white ginseng. Ginsenoside Ro can be potentially used as a marker to evaluate the qualities of white and red ginseng. This comprehensive and rapid method can be potentially used to screen the quality of the markers in the future.

Analytical Quality by Design Approach of Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography of Atorvastatin: Method Development, Optimization, Validation, and the Stability-Indicated Method

The use of analytical quality by design (AQbD) approach in the optimization of the high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method is a novel tool. Three factors and three levels of Box–Behnken statistical design (BBD) were used for method optimization and analysis of atorvastatin. The mobile phase (acetonitrile: water), flow rate (Rt), and UV wavelength were used as independent variables. Their effects were observed in the area of the chromatogram (AU), retention time (Rt, min), and tailing factor (%). The optimized HPLC condition was found as acetonitrile:water (50 : 50), flow rate (0.68 ml/min), and UV wave length (235 nm). It gives the retention time of 2.43 min with the linearity range of 5–30 μg/ml with a high regression value (r² = 0.999). The method was found to be precise and accurate with low % RSD (<5%). The refrigeration stability indicated that atorvastatin was stable. The force degradation study showed that the atorvastatin was fully unstable in UV light and stable in 0.1 M basic condition. It concluded that this QbD optimized method is suitable for quantification of the atorvastatin from the formulation as well as pharmacokinetic parameters.

Quality by Design: Concept to Applications

BACKGROUND

Quality by Design (QbD) is associated with a modern, systematic, scientific and novel approach which is concerned with pre-distinct objectives that not only focus on product, process understanding but also lead to process control. It predominantly signifies the design and product improvement and the manufacturing process in order to fulfill the predefined manufactured goods or final products quality characteristics. It is quite essential to identify the desired and required product performance report, such as Target Product Profile, typical Quality Target Product Profile (QTPP) and Critical Quality Attributes (CQA).

METHODS

This review highlighted the concepts of QbD design space, for critical material attributes (CMAs) as well as the critical process parameters that can totally affect the CQAs within which the process shall be unaffected thus, consistently manufacturing the required product. Risk assessment tools and design of experiments are its prime components.

RESULTS

This paper outlines the basic knowledge of QbD, the key elements; steps as well as various tools for QbD implementation in pharmaceutics field are presented briefly. In addition to this, quite a lot of applications of QbD in numerous pharmaceutical related unit operations are discussed and summarized.

CONCLUSION

This article provides a complete data as well as the roadmap for universal implementation and application of QbD for pharmaceutical products.

Validation of a two-dimensional liquid chromatography method for quality control testing of pharmaceutical materials

Despite the advantages of 2D-LC, there is currently little to no work in demonstrating the suitability of these 2D-LC methods for use in a quality control (QC) environment for good manufacturing practice (GMP) tests. This lack of information becomes more critical as the availability of commercial 2D-LC instrumentation has significantly increased, and more testing facilities begin to acquire these 2D-LC capabilities. It is increasingly important that the transferability of developed 2D-LC methods be assessed in terms of reproducibility, robustness and performance across different laboratories worldwide. The work presented here focuses on the evaluation of a heart-cutting 2D-LC method used for the analysis of a pharmaceutical material, where a key, co-eluting impurity in the first dimension (¹D) is resolved from the main peak and analyzed in the second dimension (²D). A design-of-experiments (DOE) approach was taken in the collection of the data, and the results were then modeled in order to evaluate method robustness using statistical modeling software. This quality by design (QBD) approach gives a deeper understanding of the impact of these 2D-LC critical method attributes (CMAs) and how they affect overall method performance. Although there are multiple parameters that may be critical from method development point of view, a special focus of this work is devoted towards evaluation of unique 2D-LC critical method attributes from method validation perspective that transcend conventional method development and validation. The 2D-LC method attributes are evaluated for their recovery, peak shape, and resolution of the two co-eluting compounds in question on the ²D. In the method, linearity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, and sensitivity are assessed along with day-to-day, analyst-to-analyst, and lab-to-lab (instrument-to-instrument) assessments. The results of this validation study demonstrate that the 2D-LC method is accurate, sensitive, and robust and is ultimately suitable for QC testing with good method transferability.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the novel antitumor 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative (GLB) and its metabolites using HPLC-UV and UPLC-QTOF-MS

Fructose-based 3-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazole (GLB) is a novel antitumor agent and belongs to glycosylated spiro-heterocyclic oxadiazole scaffold derivative. This research first reported a simple, specific, sensitive and stable high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV) method for the quantitative determination of GLB in plasma. In this method, the chromatographic separation was achieved with a reversed phase C18 column. The calibration curve for GLB was linear at 300 nm. The lower limit of quantification was 10 ng/mL. The precision, accuracy and stability of the method were validated adequately. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study in rats for detection of GLB after oral administration. Moreover, the structures of parent compound GLB and its two major metabolites M1 and M2 were identified in plasma using an ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight- mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS) method. Our results indicated that the di-hydroxylation (M1) and hydroxylation (M2) of GLB are the major metabolites. In conclusion, the present study provided valuable information on an analytical method for the determination of GLB and its metabolites in rats, can be used to support further developing of this antitumor agent.