Determination of some antihistaminic drugs by atomic absorption spectrometry and colorimetric methods

In situ synthesis of polythiophene encapsulated 2D hexagonal boron nitride nanocomposite based electrochemical transducer for detection of 5-fluorouracil with high selectivity

It is difficult for the scientific community to develop a nonenzymatic sensing platform for extremely sensitive and selective detection of specific biomolecules, antibiotics, food adulterants, heavy metals, etc. One of the most significant chemotherapy drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), which is used to treat solid malignancies, has a fluorine atom in the fifth position of the uracil molecule. Recognizing the secure and effective dosing of drugs for chemotherapy continues to be a critical concern in cancer disease management. The maintenance of the optimal 5-Fu concentration is dependent on the presence of 5-Fu in biofluids. Herein we reported a conducting polymer encapsulated 2D material, PTh/h-BN for the efficient electrochemical detection of anticancer drug 5-Fu. Furthermore, the synthesized PTh/h-BN nanocomposite was confirmed by the High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-TEM), High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope (HR-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The electrical resistance of PTh/h-BN modified GCE and its sensing performance towards 5-Fu were tested using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) studies respectively. The analytical performance of our proposed catalyst was tested using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV), and the amperometry (i-t curve) method. From the results, our proposed PTh/h-BN nanocomposite-modified GCE shows enhanced sensing performance due to higher redox peak currents, large active surface area, and high electrical conductivity. Moreover, the nanohybrid shows enhanced sensing performances with quick response time, wide linear range, the lowest limit of detection, high sensitivity, and high selectivity in the presence of various interferents. Finally, the practical applicability of the proposed sensor was tested with real-world samples with very good recovery percentages.

Loratadine

Loratadine, 4-(8-Chloro-5,6-dihydro-11H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridin-11-ylidene)-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester, is an antihistamine drug with long-acting effects and has limited selectivity for peripheral H1 receptors. It is widely used for the prevention of allergic diseases such as rhinitis chronic urticaria, and asthma. This chapter discusses, by a critical extensive review of the literature, the description of loratadine in terms of its names, formulae, elemental composition, appearance, methods of preparation. The profile contains physicochemical properties of Loratadine, including pKa value, solubility and X-ray powder diffraction. In addition, it involves Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy for functional groups and structural confirmation of. The chapter also includes methods of analysis of the drug such as compendial, titrimetric, electrochemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic methods. The chapter also covers clinical applications of the drug such as its uses, doses, ADME profiles and mechanism of action.

Application of Factorial and Doehlert Designs for the Optimization of the Simultaneous Separation and Determination of Antimigraine Drugs in Pharmaceutical Formulations by RP-HPLC-UV

A sensitive, precise, accurate, and specific isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous separation and determination of zolmitriptan, naratriptan, dihydroergotamine, ketotifen, and pizotifen in pharmaceutical formulations has been developed and validated. An experimental design was applied for the optimization of the chromatographic parameters. A two-level full factorial 2^k was used for studying the interaction between the variables to be optimized: the percentage of acetonitrile in the mobile phase, mobile-phase pH, nature of the buffer, and column oven temperature. The most significant parameters are the percentage of acetonitrile and the mobile-phase pH. These significant parameters were optimized using the Doehlert matrix. The optimum separation was achieved by means of a Waters XBridge C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and a 10 mM sodium perchlorate buffer (38 : 62, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min⁻¹ and UV detection at 220 nm. The selectivity, method linearity, accuracy, and precision were examined as part of the method validation. The described method shows excellent linearity over a range of 30 to 70 μg·mL⁻¹ for all compounds with correlation coefficients higher than 0.995. The standard deviations of the intraday and interday precision were between 0.75 and 1.94%. The validated method was successfully applied to perform routine analysis of these compounds in different pharmaceutical products such as syrups and tablets. In the presence of some preservatives, it was found that there were no peaks at the related peak locations.

Titrimetric and Spectrophotometric Methods for the Assay of Ketotifen Using Cerium(IV) and Two Reagents

One titrimetric and two spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of ketotifen fumarate (KTF) in bulk drug and in tablets using cerium(IV) as the oxidimetric agent. In titrimetry (method A), the drug was treated with a measured excess of cerium(IV) in H2SO4 medium and after a standing time of 10 min, the surplus oxidant was determined by back titration with iron(II). The spectrophotometric procedures involve addition of a known excess of cerium(IV) to KTF in acid medium followed by the determination of unreacted oxidant by reacting with either p-dimethyl amino benzaldehyde and measuring the resulting colour at 460 nm (method B) or o-dianisidine and subsequent measurement of the absorbance of coloured product at 470 nm (method C). Titrimetric assay is based on a 1 : 2 reaction stoichiometry between KTF and cerium(IV) and the method is applicable over 2-18 mg range. In spectrophotometry, regression analysis of Beer's law plots showed a good correlation in 0.4-8.0 and 0.4-10.0 g mL(-1) KTF ranges for method B and method C, respectively, and the corresponding molar absorptivity coefficients are calculated to be 4.0 × 10(4) and 3.7 × 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1).

Development and validation of spectrophotometric, atomic absorption and kinetic methods for determination of moxifloxacin hydrochloride

Three simple spectrophotometric and atomic absorption spectrometric methods are developed and validated for the determination of moxifloxacin HCl in pure form and in pharmaceutical formulations. Method (A) is a kinetic method based on the oxidation of moxifloxacin HCl by Fe(3+) ion in the presence of 1,10 o-phenanthroline (o-phen). Method (B) describes spectrophotometric procedures for determination of moxifloxacin HCl based on its ability to reduce Fe (III) to Fe (II), which was rapidly converted to the corresponding stable coloured complex after reacting with 2,2' bipyridyl (bipy). The formation of the tris-complex formed in both methods (A) and (B) were carefully studied and their absorbance were measured at 510 and 520 nm respectively. Method (C) is based on the formation of ion- pair associated between the drug and bismuth (III) tetraiodide in acidic medium to form orange-red ion-pair associates. This associate can be quantitatively determined by three different procedures. The formed precipitate is either filtered off, dissolved in acetone and quantified spectrophotometrically at 462 nm (Procedure 1), or decomposed by hydrochloric acid, and the bismuth content is determined by direct atomic absorption spectrometric (Procedure 2). Also the residual unreacted metal complex in the filtrate is determined through its metal content using indirect atomic absorption spectrometric technique (procedure 3). All the proposed methods were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, the three proposed methods permit the determination of moxifloxacin HCl in the range of (0.8-6, 0.8-4) for methods A and B, (16-96, 16-96 and 16-72) for procedures 1-3 in method C. The limits of detection and quantitation were calculated, the precision of the methods were satisfactory; the values of relative standard deviations did not exceed 2%. The proposed methods were successfully applied to determine the drug in its pharmaceutical formulations without interference from the common excipients. The results obtained by the proposed methods were comparable with those obtained by the reference method.

Potentiometric determination of ketotifen fumarate in pharmaceutical preparations and urine using carbon paste and PVC membrane selective electrodes

This study compares between unmodified carbon paste (CPE; the paste has no ion pair) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane selective electrodes that were used in potentiometric determination of ketotifen fumarate (KTF), where sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) was used as titrant. The performance characteristics of these sensors were evaluated according to IUPAC recommendations which reveal a fast, stable, and linear response for KTF over the concentration range of 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻² mol L⁻¹. The electrodes show Nernstian slope value of 52.51 ± 0.20 and 51.51 ± 0.25 mV decade⁻¹ for CPE and PVC membrane electrodes at 30°C, respectively. The potential is nearly stable over the pH range 3.0–6.0 and 2.0–7.0 for CPE and PVC membrane electrodes, respectively. Selectivity coefficient values towards different inorganic cations, sugars, and amino acids reflect high selectivity of the prepared electrodes. The electrodes responses at different temperatures were also studied, and long operational lifetime of 12 and 5 weeks for CPE and PVC membrane electrodes, respectively, were found. These are used for determination of ketotifen fumarate using potentiometric titration, calibration, and standard addition methods in pure samples, its pharmaceutical preparations (Zaditen tablets), and biological fluid (urine). The direct potentiometric determination of KTF using the proposed sensors gave recoveries % of 98.97 ± 0.53 and 98.62 ± 0.74 with RSD 1.42 and 0.63% for CPE and PVC membrane selective electrodes, respectively. Validation of the method shows suitability of the proposed sensors for use in quality control assessment of KTF. The obtained results were in a good agreement with those obtained using the reported spectrophotometric method.

Determination of ketotifen fumarate by capillary electrophoresis with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence detection

On the basis of an europium (III)-doped Prussian blue analog film modifying platinum electrode as the working electrode, a Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-based electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay coupled with capillary electrophoresis has been first established for the determination of ketotifen fumarate (KTF). Analytes were injected onto a separation capillary of 50 cm length (50 μm i.d., 360 μm o.d.) by electrokinetic injection for 10 s at 10 kV. Parameters related to the separation and detection were discussed and optimized. It was proved that 15 mM phosphate buffer at pH 8.0 could achieve the most favorable resolution, and the highest sensitivity of detection was obtained using the detection potential at 1.25 V and 5 mM Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in 100 mM phosphate buffer at pH 8.0 in the detection reservoir. Under the optimized conditions, the ECL intensity was in proportion to KTF concentration over the range from 3.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ g mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 2.1 × 10⁻⁸  g mL⁻¹ (3σ). The relative standard deviations of the ECL intensity and the migration time were 0.95 and 0.26%, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to determine KTF contents in pharmaceuticals and human urine with recoveries between 99.5 and 107.0%.

Application of a continuous square-wave potential program for sub nano molar determination of ketotifen

An electroanalytical method has been developed for the determination of the ketotifen by continuous square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry on a ultra-gold microelectrode (Au UME) in aqueous solution with phosphate buffer as supporting electrolyte. The best adsorption conditions were found to be pH 2.3, an accumulation potential of 300 mV (Au vs. Ag: AgCl-KCl 3 M) and an accumulation time of 400 ms. Variation of admittance in the detection process is created by inhibition of oxidation reaction of the electrode surface, by adsorption of ketotifen. Furthermore, signal-to-noise ratio was significantly increased by application of discrete fast Fourier transform (FFT) method, background subtraction and two-dimensional integration of the electrode response over a selected potential range and time window. Also in this work some parameters such as square-wave frequency, eluent pH, and accumulation time were optimized. Effects of square-wave frequency, step potential and pulse amplitude were examined for the optimization of instrumental conditions. The calibration curve is linear in the range 2.0x10(-7)---5.0x10(-12) M with a detection limit of 2.0x10(-12) M (ca. 0.7 pg/ml). The method maybe applied direct determination of the drug in pharmaceutical and biological samples. For a concentration of 5.0x10(-8) M a recovery value of 99.89% is obtained.

Determination of ketotifen by using calcein as chemiluminescence reagent

Chemiluminescence (CL) was observed when potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) reacted with the mixture of calcein and ketotifen. Interestingly, the CL intensity would be enhanced by trace amounts of Mg2+ and the CL intensity was strongly dependent on ketotifen concentration. Based on this phenomenon, a flow injection CL method was established for the determination of ketotifen. The possible CL mechanism is proposed based on the kinetic characteristic of the CL reaction, CL spectrum, ultraviolet (UV) spectra and fluorescent spectra. The CL intensity was correlated linearly with concentration of ketotifen over the range of 6.0x10(-9) to 2.0x10(-7) g mL(-1) and the detection limit was 3x10(-9) g mL(-1). The relative standard deviation was 1.8% for 2.0x10(-8) g mL(-1) ketotifen (n=11). This method was applied to the determination of ketotifen in the tablets successfully.

Spectrophotometric determination of some anti-tussive and anti-spasmodic drugs through ion-pair complex formation with thiocyanate and cobalt(II) or molybdenum(V)

Two rapid, simple and sensitive extractive specrophotometric methods has been developed for the determination of anti-tussive drugs, e.g., dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DEX) and pipazethate hydrochloride (PiCl) and anti-spasmodic drugs, e.g., drotaverine hydrochloride (DvCl) and trimebutine maleate (TM) in bulk and in their pharmaceutical formulations. The proposed methods depend upon the reaction of cobalt(II)-thiocyanate (method A) and molybdenum(V)-thiocyanate ions (method B) with the cited drugs to form stable ion-pair complexes which extractable with an n-butnol-dichloromethane solvent mixture (3.5:6.5) and methylene chloride for methods A and B, respectively. The blue and orange red color complexes are determined either colorimetrically at lambdamax 625 nm (using method A) and 467 or 470 nm for (DEX and PiCl) or (DvCl and TM), respectively (using method B). The concentration range is 20-400 and 2.5-50 microg mL-1 for methods A and B, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the studied drugs in pure and in pharmaceutical formulations applying the standard additions technique and the results obtained in good agreement well with those obtained by the official method.

Simultaneous determination of loratadine and desloratadine in pharmaceutical preparations using liquid chromatography with a microemulsion as eluent

A rapid HPLC procedure for analytical quality control of pharmaceutical preparations containing the antihistaminic drug substance loratadine and/or its analog desloratadine (which is also an active metabolite of loratadine) was developed using a microemulsion as the eluent. The separation was performed on a column packed with cyanopropyl bonded stationary phase adopting UV detection at 247 nm using a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The optimized microemulsion mobile phase consisted of 0.1M sodium dodecyl sulphate, 1% octanol, 10% n-propanol and 0.3% triethylamine in 0.02 M phosphoric acid, pH 3.0. The developed method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, lower limit of quantification, lower limit of detection, precision and accuracy. With the proposed method satisfactory resolution between loratadine and desloratadine (resolution factor=3.85). The method requires a minimum of sample handling and is rapid (10 min), and reproducible (R.S.D.<2.0%). The mean recoveries of the analytes in pharmaceutical preparations were in agreement with those obtained from a reference method, as revealed by statistical analysis of the obtained results using the Student's t-test and the variance ratio F-test. Pseudoephedrine, the co-formulated drug substance, did not interference with the assay and was successfully separated using the developed HPLC method.

Optimization by factorial design of a capillary zone electrophoresis method for the simultaneous separation of antihistamines

A 3(2) full factorial design was used to optimize the experimental conditions of a capillary zone electrophoresis method aimed at achieving simultaneous separation and quantification of the antihistamines brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, hydroxyzine, and loratadine according to their therapeutic group. A statistical program, SPSS, was used to calculate the mathematical model with which to obtain the response surface. Critical parameters such as pH and applied voltage were studied to evaluate their effect on resolution and on efficiency. Optimum separation conditions were phosphate buffer pH 2.0, 5kV, and 2psis(-1) at 214nm. The analysis time was below 9min and the theoretical plates were between 6000 and 63,000N. Calibration curves were prepared for the antihistamines. The limits of detection were 4-14ngmL(-1), which allow their quantification in pharmaceuticals. The RSD% of each antihistamine was fairly good. Up to seven antihistamines belonging to the antihistaminic H(1)-receptor group were separated in the same electropherogram. The proposed method was then applied to the determination of antihistamines in pharmaceutical, urine, and serum samples with recoveries in agreement with the stated contents.

Stability studies on some benzocycloheptane antihistaminic agents

The photostability of selected benzocycloheptane antihistaminic agents, namely, loratadine (I), pizotifen (II), ketotifen fumarate (III) and cyproheptatidine (IV), was investigated. Both I and II were photolabile while III and IV were photostable. To perform stability studies on the photolabile compounds (I and II), specific stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods were established. The accuracy, precision and reliability of the developed HPLC methods for the assay of I and II in their pharmaceutical dosage forms were reported. Assay results for both drugs were within R.S.D. values <2%. The stability-indicating power of the developed methods was validated through study of UV-degraded solutions of I and II contained in quartz cells. The photostability of both drugs was studied under UV-irradiation at 254 nm. The photodegradation kinetics of both drugs, studied in different solvents, are also reported. TLC fractionation of photodegraded solutions of both drugs, revealed two fluorescent photodegradates of drug I. The use of UV-absorbers (ascorbic acid and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)) enhanced the photostability of both drugs possibly through a spectral-overlay effect.

Impurity profile study of loratadine

Three unknown impurities in loratadine bulk drug at levels below 0.1% (ranging from 0.05 to 0.1%) were detected by a simple isocratic reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These impurities were isolated from mother liquor sample of loratadine using reversed-phase preparative HPLC. Based on the spectral data (IR, NMR and MS) the structures of these impurities were characterized as 11-(N-carboethoxy-4-piperidylidene)-6,11-dihydro-5H-benzo(5,6) cyclopenta(1,2-b)-pyridine (I), 8-bromo-11-(N-carboethoxy-4-piperidylidene)-6,11-dihydro-5H-benzo(5,6) cyclopenta (1,2-b)-pyridine (II) and 8-chloro-11-(N-carboethoxy-4-piperidylidene)-5H-benzo(5,6) cyclopenta (1,2-b)-pyridine (III). The synthesis of these impurities was discussed.

Determination of some histamine H1-receptor antagonists in dosage forms

Three simple and accurate methods are presented for determination of Cetirizine, Fexofenadine, Loratadine and Acrivastine in pure form and commercial dosage forms. The first method is based on the reaction of the above cited drugs with bromocresol purple dye to form ion-pair complex extractable with chloroform and subsequently measured spectrophotometrically. Secondly, eosin gives with these drugs ion-pair complex, measurable directly without extraction both spectrophotometrically and spectrofluorimetrically. The last method involves the base-catalysed condensation of mixed anhydrides of organic acids (citric acid/acetic anhydride) where as the tertiary amino group in the above-cited drugs acts as the basic catalyst. The product of condensation is measured spectrophotometrically. All the reaction conditions for the proposed methods have been studied.

Stability indicating methods for the determination of loratadine in the presence of its degradation product

Four stability-indicating procedures have been suggested for determination of the non sedating antihistaminic agent loratadine. Loratadine being an ester undergoes alkaline hydrolysis and the corresponding acid derivative is produced as a degradation product. Its identity was confirmed using IR and MS. The first procedure is based on determination of loratadine by HPLC with detection at wavelength, 250 nm. Mobile phase is acetonitrile:orthophosphoric acid (35:65) using benzophenone as an internal standard. Sensitivity range is 5.00-50.00 microg/ml. Second determination is a densitometric procedure based on determination of loratadine in the presence of its degradate at lambda 246 nm using the mobile phase; methanol:ammonia (10:0.15). Sensitivity range is 1.25-7.50 microg per spot. The third procedure is a spectrophotometric one where a mixture of loratadine and its degradate are resolved by first derivative ratio spectra. Sensitivity range is found to be 3.00-22.00 microg/ml, upon carrying out the measurements at wavelengths 236, 262.4 and 293.2 nm. The fourth procedure is based on second derivative spectrophotometry, where D(2) measurements are carried out at lambda 266 nm. The sensitivity range is 3.00-22.00 microg/ml. The validity of the described procedures was assessed by applying the standard addition technique. Statistical analysis of the results have been carried out revealing high accuracy and good precision. The suggested procedures could be used for determination of loratadine both in pure and dosage forms, as well as in the presence of its degradate.