The determination of pamidronate in pharmaceutical preparations by ion-pair liquid chromatography after derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate

Pamidronate: A model compound of the pharmacology of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates; A Leiden historical perspective

Pamidronate [3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (APD)] was the first nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (N-BP) investigated in clinical studies. In contrast to other clinically used bisphosphonates, pamidronate was discovered and its properties were initially studied in an Academic Institution. On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the first publications on the biological effects of bisphosphonates, I review in this article the contribution of Leiden investigators to the development of pamidronate that led to the recognition of the significance of the Nitrogen atom in the side chain of bisphosphonates for their action on bone resorption and to the formulation of principles for the use of N-BPs in the management of patients with different skeletal disorders.

Determination of Zoledronic Acid and Its Related Substances by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection

A method has been developed and validated for analysis of zoledronic acid (ZOL) and its related substances by ion-pair reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). Chromatographic separation was achieved with gradient elution by using a C18 column, mobile phase containing 12 mM ammonium acetate buffer and 35 mM n-pentylamine, whose pH value is 7.0, and 5% acetonitrile. The mobile-phase flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The calibration plot was linear in the range from 0.4 mg/mL to 6.0 mg/mL for ZOL and from 6.25 μg/mL to 100 μg/mL for its related substances. ZOL and its related substances, namely imidazole-1-yl-acetic acid, phosphate, phosphite and degradation products did not interfere with each other. The method was rapid, linear, accurate and reproducible. The high performance liquid chromatographic method that has been developed to determine the related substances and assay of ZOL can be used simultaneously to evaluate the quality of regular samples. It can be also used to test the stability samples of ZOL.

RP-HPLC method with indirect UV detection for determination of sodium ibandronate in pharmaceuticals

Ibandronate sodium (IBN) [(1-hydroxy-3- (methyl pentyl amino) propylidene bisphosphonic acid monosodium monohydrate)] is the sodium salt of ibandronic acid, a synthetic nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drug. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and accurate RP-HPLC method with indirect UV detection for determination of IBN in pharmaceutical formulations. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters Bridge C18 reversed-phase column (250 x 4.6 mm I.D.; particle size 5 µm), in an isocratic mode with a mobile phase constituted of 90% buffer: 10% acetonitrile (V/V). The buffer was made using 1.5 mL ortho-phosphoric acid, 990 mg 1-Hexanesulfonic acid sodium salt 98%, 140 mg EDTA in 1000 mL flask diluted with HPLC grade water. The elution was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 mL minˉ1. A diode array detector measured the UV absorbance at 198 nm, in inverse mode. The method was validated for specificity/selectivity, linearity, LOD, LOQ, accuracy, precision and robustness according to ICH validation guidelines. The limits of detection and quantification were calculated at 0.0163 µg/mL and 0.0495 µg/mL, respectively. The method was effectively used for determination of IBN from commercial tablets and provided good results without any interference from commonly used excipients. Keywords: RP-HPLC with indirect UV detection, Ibandronate sodium, validation, pharmaceuticals

Bisphosphonate-based strategies for bone tissue engineering and orthopedic implants

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a group of well-established drugs that are applied in the development of metabolic bone disorder-related therapies. There is increasing interest also in the application of BPs in the context of bone tissue engineering, which is the topic of this review, in which an extensive overview of published studies on the development and applications of BPs-based strategies for bone regeneration is provided with special focus on the rationale for the use of different BPs in three-dimensional (3D) bone tissue scaffolds. The different alternatives that are investigated to address the delivery and sustained release of these therapeutic drugs in the nearby tissues are comprehensively discussed, and the most significant published approaches on bisphosphonate-conjugated drugs in multifunctional 3D scaffolds as well as the role of BPs within coatings for the improved fixation of orthopedic implants are presented and critically evaluated. Finally, the authors' views regarding the remaining challenges in the fields and directions for future research efforts are highlighted.

Determination of bisphosphonate active pharmaceutical ingredients in pharmaceuticals and biological material: a review of analytical methods

Bisphosphonates is a class of chemical compounds finding extensive medical applications against bone disorders including osteoporosis, Pagets' disease, etc. Non-N-containing members include etidronate, clodronate and tiludronate, while N-containing bisphosphonates include active pharmaceutical compounds such as pamidronate, neridronate, olpadronate, alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate and zoledronate. The present study covers 20 years of analytical research on this group of compounds, focusing on bioanalytical and pharmaceutical QC applications. A wide range of analytical techniques is presented and critically discussed including among others liquid and gas phase separations, electrophoretic, electroanalytical, automated and enzymatic approaches.

Simple analysis of four bisphosphonates simultaneously by reverse phase liquid chromatography using n-amylamine as volatile ion-pairing agent

Volatile organic amine was used as the mobile phase addictive during the separation of four bisphosphonates (alendronate, pamidronate, zoledronic acid and etidronate). An isocratic liquid chromatography method with evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD) was developed for these bisphosphonates which are not retained on non-polar column and lack chromophore for detection. The analytes have sufficiently separated from each other on a Phenomenex C18 column. The effects of mobile phase composition and instrumental parameters of ELSD were studied. This newly developed method enables direct measurement for analysis of bisphosphonates without the need of derivatization. This developed method provides high separation and specificity to bisphosphonate analysis. In quantitative analysis, the method showed satisfactory precision (less than 2.8%) and accuracy (higher than 94.4%), good linearity (r=0.9991-0.9997) and sufficient sensitivity (15-18 microg/ml). It can be easily and conveniently adopted for the routine quality control analysis.

Analysis of bisphosphonates by capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) was applied to the direct identification and quantitation of clodronate and its four common impurities. The coaxial interface technique and negative ion mode were used in the detection. Ion source parameters and sheath liquid composition were optimized to produce maximum abundance of singly charged deprotonated molecules used in monitoring. In addition, the effects of electrolyte composition and instrumental parameters of CE on separation were studied. The developed method provides high separation power and specificity to bisphosphonate analysis. In quantitative analysis, the method showed good linearity (r=0.9946-0.9989), satisfactory repeatability (migration time variation: RSD=0.43-1.0%, peak area variation: RSD=2.2-9.4%) and sufficient sensitivity (detection limits: 0.08-0.22 mg ml(-1)) for identification of bisphosphonates from bulk material.

Chromatographic analysis of bisphosphonates

Chromatographic analysis of bisphosphonates in the past has been based primarily on reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and ion-exchange chromatography. Gas chromatography (GC) and recently even capillary electrophoresis have also been employed. For bioanalysis, pre-treatment of the sample is a major part of the analysis; protein precipitation, calcium precipitation, solid-phase extraction (SPE) and derivatization have demonstrated to play an important role in bisphosphonate assays. For some of these treatments, for example SPE and derivatization, automation may be possible. Derivatization is a prerequisite for GC analysis of bisphosphonates; a volatile derivative has to be formed. For liquid chromatography, two types of derivatization are known for bisphosphonates. First, the bisphosphonate side chain can be modified by a chemical reaction to yield a derivative with advantageous chromatographic and spectroscopic properties. Secondly, by complexation of both phosphonate groups or of phosphate after decomposition of the analyte, a coloured complex can be formed. The most sensitive bioanalytical methods are based on RPLC and fluorescence detection, if necessary after derivatization. If low detection limits are not required, for example for analysis of pharmaceutical preparations, non-specific detection methods can be applied.