Isolation and characterization of a novel acid degradation impurity of Amlodipine Besylate using Q-TOF, NMR, IR and single crystal X-ray

Identification of low-level impurities in drug prototypes of carbocisteine by means of liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry and general unknown comparative screening

High-resolution tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass analysers enable new automated workflows for untargeted data evaluation of complex samples like drug products. An example of such procedure is the so-called general unknown comparative screening (GUCS), which is used for software-assisted, automated identification of components that are only present in a sample and not in a reference. The GUCS approach has been employed for the first time to detect both degradation products and reaction products in drug products. Two different carbocisteine containing syrup prototypes - one with sucrose and the other with artificial sweeteners - were selected as examples after nine months of storage at 40 °C and 75% relative humidity. The samples were analysed chromatographically using a Coresep SB mixed-mode column and high-resolution MS and MS/MS data were recorded in information dependant acquisition mode on a Sciex X500R quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Data analysis was considerably facilitated using the corresponding placebo formulation as reference samples. With the GUCS approach two hitherto unknown degradation products of carbocisteine, i.e. the carbocisteine lactam of the sulfoxides and the disulfide between l-cysteine and thioglycolic acid, were detected at low concentrations in both of the syrup formulations. The presumed structures were confirmed by in silico analysis of the fragment spectra and high-resolution LC-MS experiments with reference substances. Two additional impurities were found in the sucrose-containing sample and identified as the N-glycosides of carbocisteine and its lactam, respectively, using binary mixtures with a 13C-labelled monosaccharide.

Simulated space radiation: Investigating ionizing radiation effects on the stability of amlodipine besylate API and tablets

Efficacious pharmaceuticals with the adequate shelf life are essential for the well-being of the space explorers and successful completion of a space mission. Space is brimming with different types of radiations, which penetrate inside the spacecraft despite the shielding material. Such radiations can alter the stability of the pharmaceuticals during long duration space missions. The literature reporting the space radiation effects on the pharmaceuticals is scarce in a public domain. Ground-based simulation studies can be useful to predict the influence of the space radiations on the stability of the pharmaceuticals. Based upon these facts, the main objective of the present preliminary work was to investigate the effect of different types of ionizing radiations on the stability of amlodipine besylate API and tablets. Amlodipine besylate samples were irradiated by protons, neutrons (thermal and fast), gamma and heavy ion (⁵⁶Fe) radiations with their different doses. The samples were also irradiated with UV-visible radiation to compare the effect of selected ionizing radiations with photodegradation. The physical stability was examined through organoleptic evaluation and the chemical stability was evaluated by FTIR and HPLC. The results of the organoleptic evaluation showed colour changes from colourless to yellow in proton irradiated solid API and gamma irradiated API aqueous solution. The FTIR spectrum of proton irradiated API showed one additional absorption band at 1728 cm^-1 due to degradation products. HPLC analysis revealed that amlodipine degraded up to 10% and 21% after the highest doses of proton and gamma irradiation, respectively. No physical or chemical changes were observed after neutron and ⁵⁶Fe irradiation. The structures of major radiolytic products were elucidated using LC-MS/MS. Two new impurities were found in the API aqueous solution as a result of gamma irradiation. The drug degradation pathways were postulated by proposing the plausible mechanism of formation.

Novel degradation products of argatroban: Isolation, synthesis and extensive characterization using NMR and LC-PDA-MS/Q-TOF

Forced degradation study of argatroban under conditions of hydrolysis (neutral, acidic and alkaline), oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress, as suggested in the ICH Q1A (R2), was accomplished. The drug showed significant degradation under hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline) and oxidation (peroxide stress) conditions. The drug remained stable under thermal and photolytic stress conditions. In total, seven novel degradation products (DP-1 to DP-7) were found under diverse conditions, which were not reported earlier. The chemical structures of these degradation products were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D NMR, Q-TOF-MSⁿ and IR spectral analysis and the proposed degradation products structures were further confirmed by the individual synthesis.

The novel acid degradation products of losartan: Isolation and characterization using Q-TOF, 2D-NMR and FTIR

Forced degradation of losartan potassium in acidic condition resulted into three potential unknown impurities. These unknown degradation products marked as LD-I, LD-II and LD-III were analyzed using a new reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), eluting at 3.63, 3.73 and 3.91 relative retention times with respect to losartan potassium (LOS) peak. All three were isolated from reaction mass using preparative HPLC and their structures were elucidated using LC-MS/MS, multidimensional NMR and FTIR spectroscopic techniques, as 5(2),11(2)-dibutyl-5(4),11(4)-dichloro-1(1)H,5(1)H,7(1)H,11(1)H-1(5,1),7(1,5)-ditetrazola-5,11(1,5)-diimidazola-2,8(1,2),3,9(1,4)-tetrabenzenacyclododecaphane,(Z)-5(2),11(2)-dibutyl-5(4),11(4)-dichloro-1(1)H,5(1)H,7(2)H,11(1)H-1(5,1),7(2,5)-ditetrazola-5,11(1,5)-diimidazola-2,8(1,2),3,9(1,4)-tetrabenzenacyclododecaphane, and 5(2),11(2)-dibutyl-5(4),11(4)-dichloro-1(2)H,5(1)H,7(2)H,11(1)H-1(5,2),7(2,5)-ditetrazola-5,11(1,5)-diimidazola-2,8(1,2),3,9(1,4)-tetrabenzenacyclododecaphane, respectively. To best of our knowledge, all three degradation products are novel impurities which are not discussed at any form of publication yet.

Identification, synthesis and characterization of process related impurities of benidipine hydrochloride, stress-testing/stability studies and HPLC/UPLC method validations

Benidipine hydrochloride, used as an antihypertensive agent and long-acting calcium antagonist, is synthesized for commercial use as a drug substance in highly pure form. During the synthetic process development studies of benidipine, process related impurities were detected. These impurities were identified, synthesized and characterized and mechanisms of their formation were discussed in detail. After all standardization procedures, they were used as reference standards for analytical studies. In addition, a separate HPLC method was developed and validated for detection of residual 1-benzylpiperidin-3-ol (Ben-2), which is used during benidipine synthesis and controlled as a potential process related impurity. As complementary of this work, stress-testing studies of benidipine were carried out under specified conditions and a stability-indicating UPLC assay method was developed, validated and used during stability studies of benidipine.

Types, principle, and characteristics of tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry and its applications

We review the principle and functional characteristics of different types or models for THRMS and provide a brief description of its applications in medical research, food safety, and environmental protection fields.