Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating Reversed-Phase HPLC Method for Assay and Estimation of Related Substances of Ivermectin in an Oral Paste

Research on detection methods of related substances and degradation products of the antitumor drug selpercatinib

Background

Selpercatinib, a selective RET kinase inhibitor, is approved for treating various cancers with RET gene mutations such as RET-rearranged thyroid cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The presence of process-related and degradation impurities in its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) can significantly affect its safety and effectiveness. However, research on detecting these impurities is limited.

Methods

This study developed and systematically validated a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method for identifying selpercatinib and its related impurities. The method utilized a 4.6 mm × 250 mm chromatographic column with 5 μm particles, employing a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, a detection wavelength of 235 nm, an injection volume of 10 μL, and a column temperature of 35°C. Mobile phase A was composed of a 9:1 ratio of water to acetonitrile, with the aqueous component adjusted to pH 2.5 and containing 2 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) and 0.4% triethylamine. Mobile phase B was pure acetonitrile. The gradient elution program was as follows: 0-2 min, 5%B; 2-15 min, 5% to 15%B; 15-30 min, 15% to 35%B; 30-35 min, 35% to 45%B; 35-36 min, 45% to 5%B; 36-45 min, 5%B.

Results

The chromatographic method established in this study was validated according to the ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. The developed HPLC method demonstrated excellent specificity, sensitivity, stability, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. It efficiently separated the impurities present in selpercatinib, thereby confirming the method's efficacy in ensuring the purity and quality of the drug.

Conclusion

The chromatographic method established in this study can be used for the detection of selpercatinib and its impurities, providing significant reference value for the quality research of selpercatinib bulk drug and its preparations, and ensuring the safety of medication for patients.

Ivermectin-Based Products in the Context of Green Pharmaceutical Analysis

BACKGROUND

Ivermectin (IVE), a broad-spectrum antiparasitic, is used in human and animal health. Analytical methods for evaluating IVE in pharmaceutical products are found in the literature and in official compendiums. However, the vast majority of them do not have an eco-friendly approach.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to present an overview of existing analytical methods for evaluating IVE in pharmaceutical matrixes in the context of green analytical chemistry (GAC) and show possibilities for increasing their greenness.

RESULTS

GAC is a current alternative to promote sustainable development in laboratories and chemical-pharmaceutical industries; therefore, through its principles, such as reducing the use of aggressive solvents, it is possible to make processes more ecological. However, the vast majority of analytical methods available in the literature and official compendiums do not present an eco-friendly approach. Seventy percent of the methods are by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Among the various pharmaceutical matrixes, the most evaluated are tablets (37%). Of all the solvents used in HPLC, ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), ultraviolet spectrophotometry (UV) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) methods, the combination of methanol and acetonitrile is the most used, accounting for more than 50% of occurrences.

CONCLUSION

Analytical methods for evaluating IVE-based products can be leveraged within the scope of GAC, bringing sustainable work opportunities to analytical development laboratories around the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

This review shows an overview of the analytical methods present in the literature and official compendiums to evaluate pharmaceutical IVE matrixes, in the context of GAC.

Development and Validation of a Stability-indicating UPLC-DAD Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Ivermectin and Praziquantel in Pharmaceutical Tablets and Dissolution Media

Currently, there is no single rapid and accurate stability-indicating quantitative method that can simultaneously determine both ivermectin and praziquantel and their related compounds. Thus, the goal of this research is to develop and validate a new rapid, accurate, and stability-indicating ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method. The method uses a water, acetonitrile, and methanol gradient. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 (1.7 μm, 2.1 × 50 mm) column with a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min, and the column temperature was maintained at 40°C. Analytes are detected at 245 nm. The method was validated in accordance with ICH Q2R1 guidelines. The linearity (R2) was >0.9987 and 0.9997 for praziquantel and ivermectin, respectively. The corresponding accuracy ranged between 98.0 and 102.0%. Intermediate precision (assessed as inter-day precision) was determined by calculating the cumulative %CV of eighteen assay preparations and was less than 2.0% for both praziquantel and ivermectin. The specificity of the method was shown by the resolution of the two active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from any interfering excipients, impurities, or degradation products. The limit of detection and quantitation for ivermectin was 26.80 ng/mL and 81.22 ng/mL, respectively. The limit of detection and quantitation for praziquantel was 1.39 μg/mL and 4.22 μg/mL, respectively. The robustness study proved that method performance is stable against small variations in sample processing parameters (shaking, sonication time, and acetonitrile % in solvent solution) and also against small variations in the initial % of mobile phase components and gradient slope. Using ICH Q2R2 criteria, the method was demonstrated to be specific, accurate, stability indicating, and robust to small variations of chromatographic variables.