Evaluation of the recently reported USP gradient HPLC method for analysis of anti-tuberculosis drugs for its ability to resolve degradation products of rifampicin

How wound environments trigger the release from Rifampicin-loaded liposomes

BACKGROUND

Chronic wounds often contain high levels of proinflammatory cytokines that prolong the wound-healing process. Patients suffering from these conditions are likely to benefit from topical rifampicin therapy. Although recent research indicates considerable anti-inflammatory properties of the antibiotic, currently, there are no commercial topical wound healing products available. To address this medical need, a liposomal drug delivery system was developed. A mechanistic investigation outlined major influences of wound environments that affect the release kinetics and, as a consequence, local bioavailability.

METHODS

Liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method and subsequently freeze-dried at the pilot scale to improve their stability. We investigated the influence of oxidation, plasma proteins, and lipolysis on the in vitro release of rifampicin and its two main degradation products using the Dispersion Releaser technology. A novel simulated wound fluid provided a standardized environment to study critical influences on the release. It reflects the pathophysiological environment regarding pH, buffer capacity, and protein content.

RESULTS

During storage, the liposomes efficiently protect rifampicin from degradation. After the dispersion of the vesicles in simulated wound fluid, despite the significant albumin binding (>70%), proteins have no considerable effect on the release. Also, the presence of lipase at pathophysiologically elevated concentrations did not trigger the liberation of rifampicin. Surprisingly, the oxidative environment of the wound bed represents the strongest accelerating influence and triggers the release.

CONCLUSION

A stable topical delivery system of rifampicin has been developed. Once the formulation comes in contact with simulated wound fluid, drug oxidation accelerates the release. The influence of lipases that are assumed to trigger the liberation from liposomes depends on the drug-to-lipid ratio. Considering that inflamed tissues exhibit elevated levels of oxidative stress, the trigger mechanism identified for rifampicin contributes to targeted drug delivery.

Analytical Methods Practiced to Quantitation of Rifampicin: A Captious Survey

Background:

Rifampicin (RIF), also known as rifampin, a bactericidal antibiotic having broad antibacterial activity against various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria acts by inhibiting DNA dependent RNA polymerase. RIF has been administered in different dosage forms like tablets, capsules, injections, oral suspension, powder, etc. for the treatment of several types of bacterial infections, including tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, leprosy and Legionnaires’ disease.

Introduction:

To ensure the quality, efficacy, safety and effectiveness of RIF drug product, effective and reliable analytical methods are of utmost importance. To quantify RIF for quality control or pharmacokinetic purposes, alternative analytical methods have been developed along with the official compendial methods.

Methods:

In this review paper, an extensive literature survey was conducted to gather information on various analytical instrumental methods used so far for RIF.

Results:

These methods were high-performance liquid chromatography (42%), hyphenated techniques (18%), spectroscopy (15%), high-performance thin-layer chromatography or thin-layer chromatography (7%) and miscellaneous (18%).

Conclusion:

All these methods were selective and specific for the RIF analysis.

Investigation of CYP2B6, 3A4 and β-esterase interactions of Withania somnifera (L.) dunal in human liver microsomes and HepG2 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae) is a traditional herb, used in African indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of various diseases (including HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis). The relevance of clinically significant interactions of Withania with ARVs and anti-TB drugs needs to be investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study evaluated the effects of its roots on cytochromes P450 (CYPs) 2B6, 3A4, and rifampicin metabolism pathway, using methanol, ethanol, aqueous, and ethyl acetate solvent extractions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extracts were tested on human liver microsomes (HLM) for CYP inhibition, mRNA expression in HepG2 cells for CYP induction. Biochemical qualitative tests and LC-MS/MS methodology were used to determine active phytoconstituents.

RESULTS

The methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts inhibited CYP2B6 with IC₅₀s 79.16 and 57.96 μg/ml respectively, while none of the extracts had any effect on rifampicin metabolism or showed time-dependant inhibition (TDI). All extracts were moderate inducers of CYP3A4; the aqueous extract exhibited 38%-fold shift induction of CYP3A4 compared to the control. The methanolic extract had the lowest CTC₅₀ (50% of cytotoxicity inhibition) (67.13 ± 0.83 μg/ml). LC-MS/MS-PDA full scans were consistent with the presence of flavone salvigenin (m/z 327), alkaloid isopelletierine (m/z 133), steroidal lactone 2,3-dihydrowithaferin-A (m/z 472), and other withanolides including withaperuvin I (m/z 533), withaferin derivative (m/z 567), some of these compounds likely being responsible for the observed CYP2B6 inhibition and CYP3A4 induction. The putative gastrointestinal tract (GIT) concentration for the active extracts was 1800 μg/ml and the hepatic circulation concentrations were estimated at about 220 μg/ml and 13.5 μg/ml for the methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. The extrapolated in vivo percentage of inhibition was at 85% for the methanolic extract against CYP2B6.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings reported in this study suggest that W. somnifera extracts have the potential of causing clinically significant herb-drug interactions (HDI) as moderate inducer of CYP3A4 and inhibitor of CYP2B6 metabolism pathway (methanol and ethyl acetate extracts).

Evaluation of the effect of temperature on the stability and antimicrobial activity of rifampicin quinone

Rifampicin is an antibiotic used as a first line treatment for tuberculosis, as well as in the treatment of other infectious diseases. Drug quality is essential for drug efficacy. Determining the stability and activity of Rifampicin Quinone in solution is important in its role as a standard against which to determine Rifampicin quality and in its effect on treatment and AMR development. Poor quality medicines, such as antimicrobials not only increase mortality and morbidity, but can also contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). One common marker of poor quality in Rifampicin samples is the presence of the degradation product Rifampicin Quinone. In this study we have found that Rifampicin Quinone in solution undergoes a chemical conversion to Rifampicin that is temperature dependent. This conversion occurs in physiologically relevant temperatures (30-50 °C) and time scales (24-120 h) and was verified using HPLC and LC-MS methods. Additionally, the conversion of Rifampicin Quinone to Rifampicin results in an increase in antimicrobial activity. We believe that ours is the first study reporting the instability of Rifampicin Quinone, and this instability in solution at these temperatures and time scales raises concerns for its use as a standard in quality testing using liquid chromatography methods and in studies of the effect of Rifampicin Quinone on AMR. Due to the use of Rifampicin Quinone as a standard in determining Rifampicin quality, the instability of Rifampicin Quinone also poses public health concerns, as the incorrect determination of medicine quality risks patient health and may promote the development of AMR.

Evolution of Rifampin Resistance in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis Due to Substandard Drugs

Poor-quality medicines undermine the treatment of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, which require months of treatment with rifampin and other drugs. Rifampin resistance is a critical concern for tuberculosis treatment. While subtherapeutic doses of medicine are known to select for antibiotic resistance, the effect of drug degradation products on the evolution of resistance is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that substandard drugs that contain degraded active pharmaceutical ingredients select for gene alterations that confer resistance to standard drugs. We generated drug-resistant Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis strains by serially culturing bacteria in the presence of the rifampin degradation product rifampin quinone. We conducted Sanger sequencing to identify mutations in rifampin-resistant populations. Strains resistant to rifampin quinone developed cross-resistance to the standard drug rifampin, with some populations showing no growth inhibition at maximum concentrations of rifampin. Sequencing of the rifampin quinone-treated strains indicated that they acquired mutations in the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase B subunit. These mutations were localized in the rifampin resistance-determining region (RRDR), consistent with other reports of rifampin-resistant E. coli and mycobacteria. Rifampin quinone-treated mycobacteria also had cross-resistance to other rifamycin class drugs, including rifabutin and rifapentine. Our results strongly suggest that substandard drugs not only hinder individual patient outcomes but also restrict future treatment options by actively contributing to the development of resistance to standard medicines.

Validation of a simple HPLC-UV method for rifampicin determination in plasma: Application to the study of rifampicin arteriovenous concentration gradient

In clinical practice, rifampicin exposure is estimated from its concentration in venous blood samples. In this study, we hypothesized that differences in rifampicin concentration may exist between arterial and venous plasma. An HPLC-UV method for determining rifampicin concentration in plasma using rifapentine as an internal standard was validated. The method, which requires a simple protein precipitation procedure as sample preparation, was performed to compare venous and arterial plasma kinetics after a single therapeutic dose of rifampicin (8.6 mg/kg i.v, infused over 30 min) in baboons (n=3). The method was linear from 0.1 to 40 μg mL(-1) and all validation parameters fulfilled the international requirements. In baboons, rifampicin concentration in arterial plasma was higher than in venous plasma. Arterial Cmax was 2.1±0.2 fold higher than venous Cmax. The area under the curve (AUC) from 0 to 120 min was ∼80% higher in arterial plasma, indicating a significant arteriovenous concentration gradient in early rifampicin pharmacokinetics. Arterial and venous plasma concentrations obtained 6h after rifampicin injection were not different. An important arteriovenous equilibration delay for rifampicin pharmacokinetics is reported. Determination in venous plasma concentrations may considerably underestimate rifampicin exposure to organs during the distribution phase.

Quantification of rifampicin in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by a highly sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method

A highly sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed to measure the levels of the antitubercular drug rifampicin (RIF) in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The analyte and internal standard (IS) were isolated from plasma and CSF by a simple organic solvent based precipitation of proteins followed by centrifugation. Detection was carried out by electrospray positive ionization mass spectrometry in the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The assay was linear in the concentration range 25-6400 ng/mL with intra- and inter-day precision of <7% and <8%, respectively. The validated method was applied to the study of RIF pharmacokinetics in human CSF and plasma over 25 h period after a 10 mg/kg oral dose.

Control and analysis of hydrazine, hydrazides and hydrazones--genotoxic impurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and drug products

This is the latest of a series of reviews focused on the analysis of genotoxic impurities. This review summarises the analytical approaches reported in the literature relating to hydrazine, hydrazines, hydrazides and hydrazones. It is intended to provide guidance for analysts needing to develop procedures to control such impurities, particularly where this is due to concerns relating to their potential genotoxicity. Of particular note is the wide variety of techniques employed, both chromatographic and spectroscopic, with most involving derivatisation. Such a wide variety of options allow the analyst a real choice in terms of selecting the most appropriate technique specific to their requirements. Several generic methodologies, covering the three main analytical approaches; i.e. HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), GC (gas chromatography) and IC (ion chromatography), are also described.

Drug-Drug Interaction Studies on First-Line Anti-tuberculosis Drugs

The purpose of this study was to carry out drug-drug compatibility studies on pure first line anti-tuberculosis drugs, viz., rifampicin (R), isoniazid (H), pyrazinamide (Z), and ethambutol hydrochloride (E). Various possible binary, ternary, and quaternary combinations of the four drugs were subjected to accelerated stability test conditions of 40 degrees C and 75% relative humidity (RH) for 3 months. For comparison, parallel studies were also conducted on single drugs. Changes were looked for in the samples drawn after 15, 30, 60, and 90 days of storage. Analyses for R, H, and Z were carried out using a validated HPLC method. The E was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), as it does not absorb in ultraviolet (UV). All single pure drugs were relatively stable and showed only 3%-5% degradation under accelerated conditions for 3 months. However, significant interactions were observed in case of the drug mixtures. In particular, ternary and quaternary drug combinations containing R and H along with Z and/or E were very unstable, showing 90%-95% and 70%-75% loss of R and H, respectively. In all these cases, isonicotinyl hydrazone (HYD) of 3-formylrifamycin and H was found to be the major degradation product. In case of RE and RZE mixtures, where H was absent, 3-formylrifamycin was instead the key degradation product. Another unidentified peak was observed in the mixture containing RZE. Apart from these chemical changes, considerable physical changes were also observed in pure E and the mixtures containing E, viz., RE, ZE, RHE, RZE, and RHZE. In addition, significant physical changes associated with noteworthy loss of H and E were also observed in mixtures containing HE and HZE. The present study thus amply shows that the four primary anti-tuberculosis drugs, when present together, interact with each other in a multiple and complex manner.

Formulation and Statistical Optimization of a Novel Crosslinked Polymeric Anti‐Tuberculosis Drug Delivery System

The crux of this research was the pragmatic investigation into the formulation of a reconstitutable multiparticulate anti-tuberculosis drug delivery system for facilitated administration for the attainment of segregated gastrointestinal (GI) delivery of rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) in order to address issues of unacceptable RIF bioavailability on coadministration with INH. Ionotropically crosslinked polymeric enterospheres for delivery of INH to the small intestine were developed via a response surface methodology for the design and optimization of the formulation and processing variables. A 3(4) Box-Behnken statistical design was constructed. The concentration of zinc sulfate salting-out and crosslinking electrolyte, the crosslinking reaction time, the drying temperature (DT), and the concentration of triethyl citrate plasticizer were varied for determination of their effect on the molar amount of zinc (n(Zn)) incorporated in the crosslinked enterosphere, drug entrapment efficiency (DEE), and mean dissolution time (MDT) at t(2h) in acidic media (0.1 M HCl). Complexometric determination of zinc cations (Zn(2+)) revealed that 23.70-287.89 mol of Zn(2+) per mole of polymer were implicated in crosslink formation. DEE of 27.92% to 99.77% were obtained. Drug release at t(2h) ranged from 1.67% to 73.04%. The salting-out and crosslinking agent significantly affected n(Zn) (p = 0.034) and the DEE (p = 0.000), as did the concentration of plasticizer employed (p = 0.000 and 0.002, respectively). High DTs (>42.5 degrees C) also significantly improved DEE (p = 0.029). ZnSO(4) had a significant effect on the MDT (p = 0.000). A dry dispersible multiparticulate system incorporating the optimally designed INH-loaded enterospheres and RIF was developed. Bivariate regression analysis of UV spectrophotometric absorbance data allowed in vitro resolution of RIF and INH release at simulated gastric pH.

Electrochemiluminescence from successive electro- and chemo-oxidation of rifampicin and its application to the determination of rifampicin in pharmaceutical preparations and human urine

A novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) type was proposed based on successive electro- and chemo-oxidation of oxidable analyte, which was different from both annihilation and coreactant ECL types in mechanism. Rifampicin was used as a model compound. No any chemiluminescence (CL) was produced by either electrochemical oxidation or chemical oxidation of rifampicin in KH(2)PO(4)--Na(2)B(4)O(7) (pH 6.6) buffer-dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC) solution. However, an ECL was observed by electrochemical oxidization of rifampicin in the same solution in the presence of oxidant such as dissolved oxygen, activated oxygen and potassium peroxydisulfate (K(2)S(2)O(8)). The ECL was attributed to electrochemical oxidation of rifampicin to form semiquinone free radical, and then subsequently chemical oxidation of the formed radical by oxidant to form excited state rifampicin quinone. The proposed ECL type introduced additional advantages such as high selectivity, simple and convenient operation, and effective avoidance of side reaction that often took place in homogenous CL reaction, and will open a novel application field. In addition, with the ECL in the presence of K(2)S(2)O(8) as oxidant, a flow injection ECL method for the determination of rifampicin was proposed. The ECL intensity was linear with rifampicin concentration in the range of 1.0 x 10(-7) to 4.0 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) and the limit of detection (s/n=3) was 3.9 x 10(-8) mol l(-1). The proposed method was applied to the determination of rifampicin in pharmaceutical preparations and human urine.

Determination of rifampicin in human plasma and blood spots by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection: a potential method for therapeutic drug monitoring

A high performance liquid chromatography method has been developed that allows quantification of concentrations of rifampicin in human plasma and blood spots. Rifampicin and papaverine hydrochloride (internal standard) were extracted from plasma using a Strata-X-CW extraction cartridge. These analytes were also extracted into acetonitrile from blood spots dried onto a specimen collection card. The recovery of rifampicin from plasma and blood spots was 84.5% and 65.0%, respectively. Separation was achieved by HPLC on a Kromasil C(18) column with a mobile phase composed of ammonium acetate (20 mM, pH 4.0) and acetonitrile, delivered on a gradient programme. Optimum detection was at 334 nm. The assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.5-20 microg/ml. The limit of quantification was 0.5 microg/ml in plasma; 1.5 microg/ml in blood spots. Both intraday and interday precision data showed reproducibility (R.S.D.< or =8.0, n=9). Stability studies showed rifampicin was stable in plasma for up to 9h after thawing; the samples were also stable for up to 9h after preparation. Five patient samples were analysed using the methods described. A correlation was found between the concentrations of RIF in plasma and blood spots (r(2)=0.92). This method is proposed as a means of therapeutic drug monitoring of rifampicin in patients with tuberculosis.

Flow-injection chemiluminescence sensor for determination of isoniazid in urine sample based on molecularly imprinted polymer

In this paper, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) of isoniazid is synthesized through thermal radical copolymerization of metharylic acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of isoniazid template molecules. A novel flow injection chemiluminescence sensor for isoniazid determination is developed by packing the isoniazid-MIP into the flow cell as recognition elements. Isoniazid could be selectively adsorbed by the MIPs and the adsorbed isoniazid was sensed by its great enhancing effect on the weak CL reaction between luminol and periodate which were mixed in the flow cell. The enhanced CL intensity is linear in the range 2x10(-9) to 2x10(-7) g/mL and the detection limit is 7x10(-10) g/mL (3sigma) isoniazid with a relative standard deviation 2.8% (n=9) for 8x10(-8) g/mL. The sensor is reversible and reusable. It has a great improvement in sensitivity and selectivity for CL analysis. As a result, the sensor has been successfully applied to determination of isoniazid in human urine. At the same time, the binding characteristic of the polymer to isoniazid was evaluated by batch method and the dynamic method, respectively.

Tuberculosis chemotherapy: current drug delivery approaches

Tuberculosis is a leading killer of young adults worldwide and the global scourge of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is reaching epidemic proportions. It is endemic in most developing countries and resurgent in developed and developing countries with high rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection. This article reviews the current situation in terms of drug delivery approaches for tuberculosis chemotherapy. A number of novel implant-, microparticulate-, and various other carrier-based drug delivery systems incorporating the principal anti-tuberculosis agents have been fabricated that either target the site of tuberculosis infection or reduce the dosing frequency with the aim of improving patient outcomes. These developments in drug delivery represent attractive options with significant merit, however, there is a requisite to manufacture an oral system, which directly addresses issues of unacceptable rifampicin bioavailability in fixed-dose combinations. This is fostered by the need to deliver medications to patients more efficiently and with fewer side effects, especially in developing countries. The fabrication of a polymeric once-daily oral multiparticulate fixed-dose combination of the principal anti-tuberculosis drugs, which attains segregated delivery of rifampicin and isoniazid for improved rifampicin bioavailability, could be a step in the right direction in addressing issues of treatment failure due to patient non-compliance.

Fast BIA-amperometric determination of isoniazid in tablets

This paper proposes a new, fast and precise method to analyze isoniazid based on the electrochemical oxidation of the analyte at a glassy carbon electrode in 0.1M NaOH. The quantification was performed utilizing amperometry associated with batch injection analysis (BIA) technique. Fast sequential analysis (60 determinations h(-1)) in an unusually wide linear dynamic range (from 2.5 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-3)M), with high sensitivity and low limits of detection (4.1 x 10(-9)M) and quantification (1.4 x 10(-8)M), was achieved. Such characteristics allied to a good repeatability of the current responses (relative standard deviation of 0.79% for 30 measurements), were explored for the specific determination of isoniazid in isoniazid-rifampin tablet.

Spectrophotometric Determination of Rifampicin through Chelate Formation and Charge Transfer Complexation in Pharmaceutical Preparation and Biological Fluids

Two simple and accurate spectrophotometric methods for determination of Rifampicin (RIF) are described. The first method is based on charge transfer (CT) complex formation of the drug with three pi-electron acceptors either 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), 7,7,7,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) or 2,3,5,6-Tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (p-chloranil) in acetonitrile. The method is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the maximum absorbance at 584 nm, 761 nm (680 nm) or 560 nm for DDQ, TCNQ and p-chloranil, respectively. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the calibration curves showed a linear relationship over the concentration ranges of 5-140 microg/ml, 2-45 microg/ml (5-120 microg/ml) and 15-200 microg/ml, respectively. The second method is based on the reaction of RIF with iron(III) forming a water insoluble violet complex which is extracted into chloroform. The method determines RIF in concentration range of 10-240 microg/ml at 540 nm. The proposed methods applied to determination of RIF in capsule, human serum and urine samples with good accuracy and precision. The results were compared statistically with the official method and showed no significant different between the methods compared in terms of accuracy and precision.

Mechanistic explanation to the catalysis by pyrazinamide and ethambutol of reaction between rifampicin and isoniazid in anti-TB FDCs

Rifampicin and isoniazid are known to interact with each other in solid formulation environment to yield isonicotinyl hydrazone (HYD). In earlier studies, this reaction was indicated to be catalyzed by pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride, the two other co-drugs present in oral anti-tuberculosis fixed-dose combination (FDC) formulations. Accordingly, the present study was carried out to understand the catalytic role of pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride on the reaction between rifampicin and isoniazid. For the purpose, organic bases and amides similar in structure to pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride were combined individually with rifampicin and isoniazid. The compounds employed were pyrazine, piperdine, pyrollidine, pyridine, triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, picolinamide, benzamide, ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. An additional study was also carried out in the presence of free base of ethambutol. The mixtures were exposed to accelerated stability test condition of 40 degrees C/75% RH for 15 d. The nature of the products formed and the changes in relative concentrations of the drugs and products were followed by HPLC. The drugs showed different extent of degradation, yielding HYD, and in some cases degradation products of rifampicin. The results confirmed the catalytic role of pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride. The catalysis is postulated to involve intra-molecular proton transfer during transhydrazone formation process, entailing a tetrahedral mechanism.

Interference of isonicotinyl hydrazone in the microbiological analysis of rifampicin from anti-tuberculosis FDC products containing isoniazid

Microbiological assay is a sensitive method for the estimation of rifampicin (R). In the present study, interference due to isonicotinyl hydrazone (HYD), an interaction product of R and isoniazid (H), was checked during microbiological analysis of R, employing Bacillus subtilis and Sarcina lutea. The assays were done by disc diffusion method. Both R and HYD showed linear log response curves in the range of 0.01-10microg. In the presence of HYD, R was overestimated when tested against S. lutea and underestimated in case of B. subtilis. The same extent and type of interference was observed on assay of a marketed anti-tuberculosis fixed-dose combination product, subjected to accelerated stability testing (40 degrees C/75% RH) for 1 month. This means that response of organisms used in microbiological assay of R might vary in the presence of HYD, with possibility of incorrect conclusions. Therefore, the study suggests that before a microbiological method involving a particular organism is extended to the determination of R in FDC formulations containing H, it should be tested for the influence of HYD and used only if non-interfering.

Overestimation of rifampicin during colorimetric analysis of anti-tuberculosis products containing isoniazid due to formation of isonicotinyl hydrazone

When present together in fixed-dose combinations (FDC) of anti-tuberculosis drugs, rifampicin (R) and isoniazid (H) interact with each other to form isonicotinyl hydrazone (HYD). In a preliminary study, this product was found to possess similar colorimetric spectrum to that of rifampicin. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken to determine interference of HYD during analysis of rifampicin in FDC products by colorimetry. For the purpose, standard plots were constructed for rifampicin and HYD at 475 nm, the wavelength maximum for both the compounds. The plots were linear in the range of 10-100 microg/ml. Molar absorptivity values for rifampicin and HYD were 15279 and 5034, respectively. It indicated that HYD possessed one-third absorptivity to that of rifampicin. The analysis of combinations of rifampicin and HYD revealed that rifampicin could be overestimated to a maximum extent of 33%, while interference varied at other relative ratios of the two compounds. This was also confirmed by colorimetric and HPLC analysis of a degraded marketed product and samples from a dissolution study. Thus this investigation suggests that any method devoid of interference of HYD should be preferred for analysis of rifampicin, whenever it is present along with isoniazid.

Evidence of Efflux-Mediated and Saturable Absorption of Rifampicin in Rat Intestine Using the Ligated Loop and Everted Gut Sac Techniques

This study was carried out to explore whether efflux-mediated and saturable mechanisms play any role toward poor and variable intestinal absorption of rifampicin. In situ segmental permeability of rifampicin at various residence times was determined in rat gastrointestinal tract using the ligated loop technique. The involvement of efflux-mediated and saturable absorption of rifampicin was studied in rat intestine using the everted sac method. The samples were analyzed by a validated HPLC method. Rifampicin showed decreased permeability in jejunum and ileum with an increase in residence time. The permeation of rifampicin from the serosal to the mucosal side (secretion) was significantly higher than permeation from the mucosal to the serosal side (absorption) of jejunum and ileum. This indicated the involvement of efflux-mediated transport. Addition of verapamil, an inhibitor for P-glycoprotein (Pgp), multidrug resistance associated protein-2 (MRP-2), and other related transporters, increased absorption of rifampicin in jejunum and ileum by 2-3-fold and decreased secretion by almost 4-fold. The permeation rate (flux) of rifampicin through duodenum increased with concentration up to 300 microg/mL, becoming constant thereafter, indicating the existence of saturable absorption. There was no saturable permeation in jejunum and ileum. Thus the present study indicates the involvement of efflux-mediated and saturable absorption mechanisms of rifampicin in rat intestine, which act as barriers to the absorption of the drug. This explains the drug's poor absolute bioavailability. As Pgp varies from person to person to an extent of 2-8-fold, it can be one direct reason for the interindividual variable bioavailability shown by rifampicin.

An Explanation for the Physical Instability of a Marketed Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) Formulation Containing Isoniazid and Ethambutol and Proposed Solutions

An investigation was carried out to explore the possible reason for the physical instability of a marketed strip packaged anti-TB fixed dose combination (FDC) tablet containing 300 mg of isoniazid (H) and 800 mg of ethambutol hydrochloride (E). The instability was in the form of distribution of white powder inside the strip pockets. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) studies confirmed that both H and E were present in the powder. The same was also confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which also indicated absence of interaction between the two drugs. No sublimation of the drugs was observed up to 110 degrees C, indicating that the observed instability was not due to this reason. Subsequently, attention was paid to the possibility of moisture gain by the tablets through defective packaging (which was established) due to hygroscopicity of E. To understand the phenomenon further, pure drugs and their mixtures were stored under accelerated conditions of temperature and humidity [40 degrees C/75% relative humidity (RH)] and both increase in weight and physical changes were recorded periodically. The mixtures gained moisture at a higher rate than pure E and those with higher content of E became liquid, which on withdrawal from the chambers, became crystallized. The drug mixture containing H:E at a ratio of 30:70 w/w, which was similar to the ratio of the drugs in the tablets (27:73 w/w), crystallized fastest, indicating formation of a rapid crystallizing saturated system at this ratio of the drugs. It is postulated that the problem of instability arises because of the formation of a saturated layer of drugs upon moisture gain through the defective packaging material and drying of this layer with time. The study suggests that barrier packaging free from defects and alternatively (or in combination) film coating of the tablets with water-resistant polymers are essential for this formulation.