Pharmacopoeial HPLC methodology improvement: A case study of piroxicam

In the present study, a simple, stability-indicating and cost-effective reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of piroxicam in commercial and masterful formulation capsules as an alternative to existing methods. The improved HPLC method was carried out on a C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm), maintained at 30 °C. The mobile-phase consisted of a solution of triethylamine 0.3% pH 5.0 and acetonitrile (70:30; v/v), run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and using photodiode array (PDA) detection at 248 nm. The chromatographic separation is obtained with retention time of 6.8 min, presenting adequate system suitability parameters for HPLC analysis. Validation parameters such as the specificity, linearity, matrix effect, precision, accuracy and robustness were evaluated in accordance with the ICH Q2(R1) and Brazil RDC 166/17 requirements, giving satisfactory results within the acceptable range. The proposed method was successfully validated and applied for piroxicam analysis, contributing to improve the quality control, and can be used as easy, accurate, low time-consuming alternative to pharmacopeial quantification methodology of drug.

Validation of a green spectrophotometric method for the determination of dropropizine in commercial oral solutions

The present work describes a first-order derivative spectrophotometric (1D-UV) method for determination of dropropizine in commercial oral solutions. The method was developed using ecologically correct solvents and validated according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) recommendations. The response was linear in the concentration range of 6–24 μg/mL (r = 0.9997, n = 7) at wavelength 249 nm, which was the zero crossing point of excipient solutions. The detection and quantitation limits were 0.36 and 1.18 μg/mL, respectively. The method showed adequate precision, with a relative standard deviation values lower than 1.41%. Excellent values of accuracy were obtained, with a mean value of 99.44%. The method proved to be robust by a full factorial design evaluation. It is simple, it has low cost, and it has low use of polluting reagents. Minimum environmental hazards observed and the results obtained attest to the reliability of the proposed green method, showing to be specific, linear, precise, accurate and robust. Thus, the validated 1D-UV spectrophotometric method was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of dropropizine in oral solutions dosage forms, helping to improve quality control and to assure therapeutic efficacy.

AMF communities associated to Vitis vinifera in an Italian vineyard subjected to integrated pest management at two different phenological stages

Vitis vinifera L. is an economically important crop that can be influenced by soil microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), that establish symbiotic associations with its roots. AMF have beneficial effects on grapevine performance improving water use efficiency and replant success. Most grapevine varieties are susceptible to various diseases, and integrated pest management (IPM) is one of the emerging approaches to perform pest control. In the present study, we examined the AMF communities present in the soil associated to the roots of V. vinifera cv. Pinot Noir (comparing them to those present in a soil not affected by grapevine roots), in a vineyard subjected to IPM at two different phenological stages, using 454 Roche sequencing technology. We proposed a new approach to analyze sequencing data. Most of the taxa were included in the family Glomeraceae. In particular, Glomus sp. Rhizophagus sp. and Septoglomus viscosum were present. The family Archeosporaceae was represented only by the genus Archeospora sp. Different AMF communities were found in the two soils and the importance of the phenological stage in regulating AMF biodiversity was assessed.

Metaproteomic characterization of theVitis vinifera rhizosphere

The rhizosphere is a hotspot of microbial activity where the release of root exudates stimulates bacterial density and diversity. The majority of the bacterial cells in soil are viable, unculturable, but active. Proteomic tools could be useful in gaining information about microbial community activity and to better understand the real interactions between roots and soil. The aim of this work was to characterize the bacterial community associated with Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir roots using a metaproteome approach. Our results confirmed the large potential of proteomics in describing the environmental microbial communities and their activities: in particular, we showed that bacteria belonging to Streptomyces, Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia and Pseudomonas genera are the most active in protein expression. Concerning the biological activity of these genera in the rhizosphere, we observed the exclusive presence of the phosphorus metabolic process and the regulation of primary metabolic processes. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the rhizosphere proteome of V. vinifera, describing the bacterial community structure and activity of an important ecosystem for the Italian landscape, agriculture and economy.

Delapril and Indapamide: Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating Core-Shell LC Method and Its Application for Simultaneous Tablets Assay

Background: The combination of delapril (DEL) and indapamide (IND) may be regarded as an optimal drug treatment for hypertensive patients. However, there is no published study concerning the suitable stability conditions and evaluation of drugs in the raw material and commercial product. Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop an innovative, high-throughput, and stability-indicating LC method for the simultaneous analysis of DEL and IND in combined dosage form. Methods: Analyses were performed using a core-shell C18 column (100 mm × 4.6 mm id, 2.6 μm) at 45°C using isocratic elution for the mobile phase composed of triethylamine solution (0.3%, pH 5.0)-acetonitrile-methanol (58 + 35 + 7, v/v/v). The separation was obtained within 3.5 min at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV detection set at 213 nm. Results: The specificity and stability-indicating capability of the method were proven through degradation studies, which also showed that there is no interference of the formulation excipients, showing that the peak is free from any co-eluting peak. Conclusions: The method showed adequate precision, with relative standard deviation values lower than 1.85%. Excellent values of accuracy were obtained, with a mean value of 98.64% for IND and 98.65% for DEL. Experimental design was used during validation to calculate and prove the method robustness. Highlights: The proposed LC method was successfully validated according to International Conference on Harmonisation requirements and applied for the simultaneous determination of DEL and IND in tablets, presenting suitability for stability studies and contributing to improve the QC of pharmaceuticals.

Chemometric-Assisted Spectrophotometric Method for the Simultaneous Quantitative Determination of Ezetimibe and Simvastatin in Their Combined Dosage Forms

The multivariate method, partial least-squares (PLS), was used as a calibration procedure for the simultaneous UV spectrophotometric determination of ezetimibe and simvastatin in their pharmaceutical forms. The method was developed and satisfactorily validated according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. In this study, the PLS algorithms are based on the absorption spectra of 25 different mixtures of drugs obtained by a multilevel factorial design. The method was linear in the concentration range of 2-8 μg/mL for ezetimibe and 4-16 μg/mL for simvastatin (r2 > 0.99; n = 7) at wavelengths of 238 and 247 nm, respectively. The LOD and LOQ were 0.28 and 0.93 μg/mL for ezetimibe and 0.16 and 0.53 μg/mL for simvastatin, respectively. Precision and accuracy data, evaluated by RSD, were lower than 2%. The method, which proved to be robust, was performed with a 2n full-factorial design. The validated method is simple and low cost, has a low use of polluting reagents, and is environmental friendly. Therefore, the proposed method was successfully applied for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of ezetimibe and simvastatin in commercial formulations.

DETERMINATION OF PINAVERIUM BROMIDE IN PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS BY A VALIDATED STABILITY-INDICATING LC METHOD

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) method is validated for the determination of pinaverium bromide (PB) in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The LC method is carried out on a reversed-phase monolithic C18 column (100 x 4.6 mm i.d.), maintained at 45 ºC. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and a solution of triethylamine 0.3% pH 5.0 (50:50; v/v), run at a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min, with photodiode array detector set at 213 nm. The chromatographic separation is obtained with PB retention time of 3.4 min, and it is linear in the range of 5-100 μg/mL (r2 = 0.9991). The limits of detection and quantitation are 1.41 and 4.70 μg/mL, respectively. The specificity and stability-indicating capability of the method are proven through degradation studies, which also showed that there is no interference of the formulation excipients, showing that peak is free from any coeluting peak. The method showed adequate precision, with a relative standard deviation values lower than 1.38%. Excellent values of accuracy were also obtained, with a mean value of 100.68%. Experimental design is used during validation to calculate and prove method robustness. The proposed LC method is applied for the analysis of the PB pharmaceutical dosage forms, contributing to improve the quality control and to assure the therapeutic efficacy.

Dissolution method for delapril and manidipine combination tablets based on an absorption profile of manidipine

The present study describes the development and validation of a dissolution method for delapril (DEL) and manidipine (MAN) combination tablets, using a simulated absorption profile based on in vivo data for MAN. The suitable in vitro dissolution profile for this formulation was obtained using 900 mL of citrate buffer pH 3.2 at 37 °C±0.5 °C as dissolution medium and USP apparatus 2 (paddle) at 75 rpm. All samples were analyzed by a liquid chromatography (LC) method. Under these conditions, a significant linear relationship between the absorbed (calculated by deconvolution approach) and dissolved fractions of MAN was obtained (R=0.997) and an in vivo-in vitro (IVIV) correlation for this particular formulation containing MAN can be established. Validation parameters for dissolution methodology such as the specificity, linearity, accuracy and precision were also evaluated according to the international guidelines, giving results within the acceptable range. Therefore, the proposed dissolution conditions can be applied for the simultaneous release analysis of DEL and MAN from the solid dosage form, contributing to the improvement of the quality control of pharmaceutics and minimizing the number of bioavailability studies.

Monolithic LC method applied to fesoterodine fumarate low dose extended-release tablets: Dissolution and release kinetics

A dissolution test for fesoterodine low dose extended-release tablets using liquid chromatographic (LC) method equipped with a C₁₈ monolithic column was developed and validated. LC system was operated isocratically at controlled temperature (40 °C) using a mobile phase of acetonitrile:methanol:0.03 M ammonium acetate (pH 3.8) (30:15:55, v/v/v), run at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min and detected at 208 nm. The best dissolution conditions for this formulation were achieved using a USP apparatus 2 (paddle) at 100 rpm and 900 mL of phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 as the dissolution medium. Validation parameters such as the specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness were evaluated according to international guidelines, giving results within the acceptable range. The kinetic parameters of drug release were also investigated using model-dependent methods and the dissolution profiles were best described by the Higuchi model. The validated dissolution test can be applied for quality control of this formulation.

Development and validation of a discriminative dissolution method for atorvastatin calcium tablets using in vivo data by LC and UV methods

A dissolution method to analyze atorvastatin tablets using in vivo data for RP and test pilot (PB) was developed and validated. The appropriate conditions were determined after solubility tests using different media, and sink conditions were established. The conditions used were equipment paddle at 50 rpm and 900 mL of potassium phosphate buffer pH 6.0 as dissolution medium. In vivo release profiles were obtained from the bioequivalence study of RP and the generic candidate PB. The fraction of dose absorbed was calculated using the Loo-Riegelman method. It was necessary to use a scale factor of time similar to 6.0, to associate the values of absorbed fraction and dissolved fraction, obtaining an in vivo-in vitro correlation level A. The dissolution method to quantify the amount of drug dissolved was validated using high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and validated according to the USP protocol. The discriminative power of dissolution conditions was assessed using two different pilot batches of atorvastatin tablets (PA and PB) and RP. The dissolution test was validated and may be used as a discriminating method in quality control and in the development of the new formulations.

Transcript analysis of stress defence genes in a white poplar clone inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae and grown on a polluted soil

In this study we investigated if the symbiosis with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae, which contributes to alleviate heavy metal stress in plants, may affect the transcription of genes involved in the stress defence in the white poplar clone 'AL35' grown on a multimetal (Cu and Zn) contaminated soil. The results obtained showed that the symbiosis with G. mosseae reduced transcript abundance of genes involved in antioxidant defence in leaves and roots of 'AL35' plants grown on the heavy metal-polluted soil. Moreover, the interaction between this poplar clone and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus induced the gene coding for phytochelatin synthase in leaves, whereas the expression of genes involved in heavy metal homeostasis did not change in roots. The present results suggest that, in presence of high levels of heavy metals, inoculation with G. mosseae may confer to 'AL35' a more efficient control of the oxidant level. Moreover, in mycorrhizal plants heavy metal chelation pathways appear involved in the defence strategies in leaves, whereas in roots they do not seem to contribute to increase the plant tolerance of heavy metals.

First-order derivative UV spectrophotometric method for simultaneous measurement of delapril and manidipine in tablets

A first-order derivative spectrophotometric (1D-UV) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of delapril (DEL) and manidipine (MAN) in tablets. The 1D-UV spectra were obtained using change lambda = 4.0 nm and wavelength set at 228 nm for DEL and 246 nm for MAN. The method was validated in accordance with the ICH requirements, involving the specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness and limits of detection and quantitation. The method showed high specificity in the presence of two drugs and formulation excipients and was linear over the concentration range of 18-54 microg mL(-1) (r2 = 0.9994) for DEL and 6-18 microg mL(-1) (r2 = 0.9981) for MAN with adequate results for the precision (< or = 1.47%) and accuracy (98.98% for DEL and 100.50% for MAN). Moreover, the method proved to be robust by a Plackett-Burman experimental design evaluation. The proposed 'D-UV method was successfully applied for simultaneous analysis of DEL and MAN in tablets and can be used as alternative green method to separation techniques. The results were compared with the validated liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods, showing non-significant difference.

Second-Order Derivative UV Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Fesoterodine and Comparison with LC, CE and LC-MS/MS in Commercial Extended-Release Tablets

The present work describes a second-order derivative UV spectrophotometric method for determination of a potent antimuscarinic drug, fesoterodine, in extended-release tablets. The method was developed and satisfactory validated according to ICH guideline with respect to specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. The response was linear in the concentration range of 2-24 µg mL-1 (r2 = 0.9999, n = 7) at wavelength 228 nm, which was the zero crossing point of excipient solutions. The detection and quantitation limits were 0.38 and 1.27 µg mL-1, respectively. Precision and accuracy data evaluated by relative standard deviation were lower than 2%. The method proved to be robust by a Plackett-Burman design evaluation. It is simple, it has low cost, and it has low use of polluting reagents. Therefore, the proposed method was successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of fesoterodine in commercial tablets, and the results were compared to validated methods by liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry showing non-significant difference (P > 0.05).

Delapril and manidipine measurements by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in a pharmaceutical formulation

A simple, specific, fast and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous analysis of delapril (DEL) and manidipine (MAN) from their combination formulation was developed and validated using fesoterodine as the internal standard (IS). The LC-MS/MS method was carried out on a Luna C8 column (50 × 3.0 mm i.d., 3 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and 10 mmol L(-1) ammonium acetate (90 : 0, v/v), run at a flow rate of 0.25 mL min(-1). The mass spectrometry method was performed employing positive electrospray ionization operating in multiple reaction monitoring mode, monitoring the transitions of m/z 453.1 → 234.1 for DEL, m/z 611.1 → 167.0 for MAN and m/z 412.2 → 223.0 for IS. The total analysis time was 3 min and the method was linear in the concentration range of 6-1080 ng mL(-1) and 2-360 ng mL(-1) for DEL and MAN, respectively. Parameters investigated for the method validation, such as the specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness, gave results within the acceptable range. Moreover, the proposed method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of DEL and MAN and the results were compared to validated liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis methods showing non-significant differences (P = 0.9).

Clonal differences in survival capacity, copper and zinc accumulation, and correlation with leaf polyamine levels in poplar: a large-scale field trial on heavily polluted soil

Three ex situ collections of poplar clones from natural populations of Populus alba and P. nigra growing in northern Italy were assessed for their genetic dissimilarity (GD) by means of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). The high GD evidenced within populations was exploited for screening 168 clones in a field trial on heavy metal-polluted soil. After one growth season, clonal differences in plant survival and growth were observed. On the basis of performance, six clones were singled out, and used to evaluate copper and zinc accumulation in different organs. Clonal differences in metal concentrations were most evident for leaves and stems; one clone of P. alba (AL35) had a distinctly higher concentration of both metals in the roots. Leaf polyamine (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) profiles correlated with tissue metal concentrations, depending on the clone, plant organ and metal. In particular, the high metal-accumulating clone AL35 exhibited a dramatically higher concentration of free and conjugated putrescine. Overall, the results indicate that, given the high GD of Populus even within populations, it is possible to identify genotypes best suited for soil clean-up, and useful also for investigating physiological markers associated with high metal accumulation/tolerance.