untitled European Journal of Chemistry 5 (3) (2014) 545‐549 European Journal of Chemistry ISSN 2153‐2249 (Print) / ISSN 2153‐2257 (Online)  2014 Eurjchem Publishing ‐ Printed in the USA http://dx.doi.org/10.5155/eurjchem.5.3.545‐549.1066 European Journal of Chemistry Journal homepage: www.eurjchem.com Validated RP‐HPLC and HPTLC methods for simultaneous estimation of febuxostat and diclofenac sodium in pharmaceutical dosage form Ponnuveetil Gopi Sunitha a and Kaliappan Ilango b,* a Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Madras Medical College, Chennai, 600003, Tamil Nadu, India b Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sri Ramaswamy Memorial College of Pharmacy, Sri Ramaswamy Memorial University, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India *Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sri Ramaswamy Memorial College of Pharmacy, Sri Ramaswamy Memorial University, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India. Tel.: +91.944.4144120. Fax: +91.044.27432342. E‐mail address: ilangok67@gmail.com (K. Ilango). COMMUNICATION INFORMATION ABSTRACT DOI: 10.5155/eurjchem.5.3.545‐549.1066 Received: 05 April 2014 Received in revised form: 01 May 2014 Accepted: 01 May 2014 Online: 30 September 2014 KEYWORDS The present work reports a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐ HPLC) method and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the simultaneous determination of febuxostat and diclofenac sodium in pharmaceutical dosage form. HPLC was performed using a Thermo Hypersil C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) using a mixture of methanol: KH2PO4 (0.02 M) (70:30, v:v) as mobile phase. Ultraviolet detection was carried out at 280 nm. The retention time of febuxostat and diclofenac sodium were found to be 6.725 and 8.892 min, respectively. The HPTLC separation was conducted on Merck HPTLC aluminum sheets of silica gel 60 F254 as stationary phase using toluene:methanol in the ratio of 7:3 (v:v) as the mobile phase. The detection of febuxostat and diclofenac sodium was carried out at 297 nm. The Rf values of febuxostat and diclofenac sodium were found to be 0.48 and 0.60, respectively. Both the methods were validated as per ICH guidelines. The proposed methods were found to be suitable for the quantification of the selected combination of drugs in pharmaceutical dosage form. Tablet HPTLC RP‐HPLC Validation Diclofenac Febuxostat 1. Introduction Febuxostat (FEB) is chemically known as 2‐(3‐cyano‐4‐ isobutoxyphenyl)‐4‐methyl‐1,3‐thiazole‐5‐carboxylic acid [1]. The chemical structure of febuxostat is shown in Figure 1. Febuxostat is a non‐purine xanthine oxidase inhibitor used in the treatment of hyperuricaemia with chronic gout [2]. Diclofenac (DIC) is chemically 2‐(2,6‐dichloranilino) phenyl acetic acid [1]. The chemical structure of diclofenac is shown in Figure 2. It is a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) taken or applied to reduce inflammation and as an analgesic for reducing pain in certain conditions [2]. Literature review revealed that spectrophotometric method [3], HPLC methods [4‐7] and stability indicating studies [8‐12] have been reported for estimation of febuxostat and HPLC [13,14] and spectro‐ photometric [15‐17] methods have been reported for diclofenac alone. Further a validated HPLC method [18] for simultaneous estimation of febuxostat and diclofenac potassium in bulk and tablet dosage form on C18, (250 mm × 4.6 mm × 5 µm) column using acetonitrile:methanol:water (30:30:40, v:v:v; pH adjusted to 5.0 with TEA and o‐phosphoric acid) as mobile phase and validated simultaneous equation and absorbance ratio methods [19,20] for the simultaneous estimation of febuxostat and diclofenac in tablet dosage form have been reported. Figure 1. Structure of febuxostat. Figure 2. Structure of diclofenac. In this work, a simple RP‐HPLC method using methanol: KH2PO4 (0.02 M) (70:30, v:v) as mobile phase and HPTLC method using toluene:methanol in the ratio of 7:3 (v:v) as mobile phase have been reported. 546 Sunitha and Ilango / European Journal of Chemistry 5 (3) (2014) 545‐549 HPTLC is becoming a routine analysis technique due to advantages of low operating cost, high sample throughput, and need for minimum sample cleanup. The major advantage of HPTLC is that several samples can be run simultaneously using a small quantity of mobile phase unlike HPLC, thus lowering analysis time and cost per analysis. 2. Experimental 2.1. Instrumentation The HPLC system (Jasco Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) consisted of dual Pump (Model: Jasco PU‐2080 Plus and Jasco PU‐2087 Plus Intelligent Prep.) along with manual injector sampler programmed at 20 µL capacity per injection. The UV/ VIS (Model: Jasco UV 2075) detector was used. LC separations were performed on a Thermo Hypersil C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size). Camag HPTLC system with Camag linomat IV automatic sample applicator, Camag TLC scanner III and Camag WinCATS software were used for HPTLC method. Saturation was done in Camag Twin‐trough chamber (20 x 10 cm). Merck plates coated with silicagel 60 F254 (250µm thickness) on aluminium sheets was used as stationary phase. 2.2. Reagents and chemicals Working standards of pharmaceutical grade FEB and DIC were obtained as gift samples from Centaur Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pune. The tablet XANFEB DSR containing 40 mg FEB and 100 mg DIC was procured from the local pharmacy. All the chemicals and reagents used were of HPLC grade obtained from Merck Ltd., Mumbai, India. 2.3. Mobile phase The mobile phase used in HPLC was methanol: KH2PO4 (0.02 M) (70:30, v:v). The flow rate was set to 1.0 mL/min. In HPTLC, toluene:methanol in the ratio of 7:3 (v:v) was used as mobile phase. 2.4. Preparation of standard stock solution Standard stock solution of FEB and DIC containing 100 μg/mL and 1000 ppm were prepared for HPLC and HPTLC methods, respectively. From the above stock solution, concentrations in the range of 2‐12 μg/mL of FEB and 5‐30 μg/mL of DIC for HPLC and 40‐280 ng/band of FEB and 100‐ 600 ng/band of DIC for HPTLC were prepared. The peak area for the different concentrations of FEB and DIC were recorded. The chromatogram in Figure 3 shows the retention time of FEB and DIC as 6.725 and 8.892 min, respectively, by HPLC method. The calibration curves were constructed between concentra‐ tion against their respective peak area for FEB and DIC, respectively. Figure 4 shows the UV overlay spectrum of FEB and DIC and Figure 5 represents 3‐D Chromatogram obtained in HPTLC study showing peaks of FEB and DIC in different concentrations. The densitogram of FEB and DIC is shown in Figure 6. 2.5. Sample preparation For analysis of the tablet dosage form, twenty tablets (XANFEB DSR, Indoco Remedies Ltd.) containing 40 mg of FEB and 100 mg of DIC were weighed individually and their average weight was determined. For HPLC method, the tablets were crushed to a fine powder and powder equivalent to the weight of 40 mg of FEB and 100 mg of DIC was transferred to a 100 mL volumetric flask and dissolved in about 30 mL of mobile phase. The solution was shaken for 5 min and then ultrasonicated for 15‐ 20 min and filtered through 0.45 µm Whatman filter paper. The residue was washed with mobile phase and the combined filtrate was made up to the mark with the same solvent. 1 mL of this solution was diluted to 100 mL solvent to get the final solution that consists of concentration of 4 μg/mL of FEB and 10 μg/mL of DIC. The solution (20 μL) was then injected for quantitative analysis. The identities of both the compounds were established by comparing retention time of the sample solution with those of standard mixed solution. Figure 3. Chromatogram showing Rt of FEB and DIC. Figure 4. UV overlay of FEB and DIC. Figure 5. 3‐D Chromatogram showing peaks of FEB and DIC in different concentrations at 297 nm. For HPTLC method, quantity equivalent to 40 mg of FEB and 100 mg of DIC was taken in 100 mL volumetric flask and dissolved in 40 mL methanol and the final volume was made up with the same solvent. The solution was filtered through 0.45 µm nylon syringe filter. Sunitha and Ilango / European Journal of Chemistry 5 (3) (2014) 545‐549 547 Table 1. Analysis of the marketed formulation by HPLC and HPTLC methods *. Drug HPLC HPTLC Amount taken, µg/mL Drug content (%)±S.D. %RSD Amount taken, ng/band Drug content (%)±S.D. %RSD FEB 4 99.821±0.081 0.019 120 99.68±0.018 0.158 DIC 10 100.190 ±0.154 0.055 300 99.21±0.134 0.183 * n=6. Table 2. Linear regression data for the calibration curves by HPLC and HPTLC methods a. Parameter HPLC HPTLC FEB DIC FEB DIC Linearity range 2‐12 µg/mL 5‐30 µg/mL 40‐280 ng/band 100‐600 ng/band r2 0.9997 0.9997 0.9989 0.9999 Slope ± standard error 33170±268.3 44490±385.2 26.76±0.4507 14.01±0.0663 Intercept ± standard error 3093±20.89 1098±75.00 209.47±70.22 46.289±25.84 Confidence limit of slope b 32430 to 33920 43420 to 45550 25.50±28.01 13.82±14.19 Confidence limit of intercept b ‐2708 to 8893 ‐19720 to 21920 14.55±404.4 ‐25.43±118.0 Sy.x c 2244 8057 75.42 27.75 p value d <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 a n=6. b 95% confidence intervals. c Standard deviation of residuals from line. d p value is < 0.0001, considered highly significant. Table 3. Accuracy studies for the determination of FEB and DIC by HPLC and HPTLC methods *. Drug HPLC Amount added (%) Theoretical content (µg/mL) Measured conc.±SD Recovery (%) % R.S.D FEB 80 4.8 4.85± 0.06 96.29 1.212 100 6 6.05±0.02 100.8 0.399 120 7.2 7.25 ± 0.04 100.75 0.687 DIC 80 12 11.94 ± 0.01 99.5 0.153 100 15 14.94±0.08 99.6 0.084 120 18 18.17±0.09 100.94 0.094 Drug HPTLC Amount added (ng) Total amount (ng) Amount recovered (ng) Recovery (%) % R.S.D FEB 20 60 58.58 97.64 1.01 40 80 81.52 101.9 0.98 60 100 97.73 97.73 1.15 DIC 50 150 150.68 100.45 1.16 100 200 197.86 98.93 0.48 150 250 247.45 98.98 1.37 * n=6. From the resultant solution 1 mL was diluted to 10 mL which contains 40 and 100 ppm of FEB and DIC respectively. 3 µL volume was spotted for six times to achieve a final concentration of 120 ng/band for FEB and 300 ng/band for DIC. The plate was developed in the previously described chromatographic conditions and the peak area of the spots was measured at 297 nm. The results of analysis of marketed formulation by HPLC and HPTLC methods are reported in Table 1. 2.6. Validation The validation of an analytical method verifies that the characteristics of the method satisfy the requirements of the application domain. The proposed method was validated in the light of ICH Guidelines [21]. The developed method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, selectivity and specificity study as per ICH guidelines. All the validation studies were carried out by replicate injection of the sample and standard solutions. 2.6.1. Linearity Linear relationship was observed in concentrations ranging from 2‐12 μg/mL for FEB and 5‐30 μg/mL for DIC in HPLC and 40‐280 ng/band for FEB and 100‐600 ng/band for DIC in HPTLC. From the data obtained correlation coefficient, y‐ intercept and slope were calculated to provide mathematical estimates of the degree of linearity (Table 2). Figure 6. Densitogram of FEB (0.48) and DIC (0.60) standard. 2.6.2. Accuracy Accuracy of the developed methods was carried out by adding known amount of each drug corresponding to three concentration levels; 80, 100 and 120% of the label claim in HPLC and 50, 100 and 150% of the label claim in HPTLC. The accuracy was expressed as the percentage of analytes recovered by the assay methods. The results of percentage recovery are shown in Table 3. 2.6.3. Precision Precision was studied by repeatability and intermediate precision studies. 548 Sunitha and Ilango / European Journal of Chemistry 5 (3) (2014) 545‐549 Table 4. Results of Precision study by HPLC and HPTLC methods *. Drug HPLC HPTLC Drug conc. (µg/mL) Repeatability Intermediate precision Drug conc. (ng/band) Intraday precision Interday precision Found conc. ± S.D. % RSD Found conc. ± S.D. % RSD % RSD % RSD FEB 2 1.9394±0.0012 0.065 1.9312±0.0122 0.632 40 1.42 1.55 6 6.0677±0.0008 0.013 6.0816±0.0501 0.824 120 1.11 1.48 12 11.917±0.0043 0.036 11.8529±0.1297 1.094 240 1.71 1.71 DIC 5 5.019±0.0307 0.612 5.1356±0.0985 1.919 100 1.53 1.002 15 14.898±0.0192 0.128 14.826±0.1184 0.798 300 0.121 1.53 30 30.7689±0.1954 0.650 29.9605±0.4040 1.348 600 0.434 0.625 * n=6. Table 5. Limit of detection(LOD) and limit of quantitation(LOQ) in HPLC and HPTLC methods. Parameter HPLC HPTLC FEB DIC FEB DIC LOD 0.32 μg/mL 1.13 μg/mL 0.24 ng/band 0.13 ng/band LOQ 0.98 μg/mL 2.87 μg/mL 0.70 ng/band 0.37 ng/band Table 6. Robustness evaluation a of the method by HPLC (n = 6). Factor Level Retention time (tR) Asymmetry (T) FEB DIC FEB DIC A: Flow Rate (mL/min) 0.9 ‐1 6.712 8.687 1.02 1.15 1.0 0 6.725 8.892 1.01 1.17 1.1 +1 6.613 8.788 1.01 1.16 B: Percentage of methanol in the mobile phase (v:v) 71 ‐1 6.712 8.824 1.33 1.23 70 0 6.725 8.892 1.31 1.22 72 +1 6.798 8.878 1.29 1.21 C: Columns from different manufacturers Hypersil C18 column 6.725 8.892 1.31 1.22 HiQ‐Sil™ HS C18 column 6.798 8.811 1.32 1.23 a Average of three concentrations 2, 6 and 12 µg/mL for FEB, 5, 15 and 30 µg/mL for DIC. Table 7. Robustness evaluation of the method by HPTLC (n = 6). Parameter SD of peak area for FEB % RSD SD of peak area for DIC % RSD Mobile phase composition (±0.1 mL) 15.26 0.46 22.77 0.620 Amount of mobile phase (±5%) 11.51 0.31 16.53 0.254 Time from application to development (+10 min) 7.74 0.25 9.81 0.240 Time from development to scanning (+10 min) 14.63 0.45 7.38 0.154 The results are reported in terms of relative percentage standard deviation (% RSD) as in Table 4. 2.6.4. Limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) The lowest amount of the analyte in the sample which can be detected and the lowest amount of analyte which can be quantitatively determined were studied and, LOD and LOQ values are reported in Table 5. 2.6.5. Robustness The robustness of the methods was determined by subjecting the methods to slight changes in the chromato‐ graphic conditions. It was observed that there was no marked change in the chromatogram which demonstrated that the methods developed are robust (Table 6 and 7). 2.6.6 Selectivity The selectivity was checked by injecting the solution of both the drugs into the HPLC system and it was observed that two sharp peaks of FEB and DIC having resolution of 2.511 were obtained at retention time of 6.725 and 8.892 min, respectively. In HPTLC, the Rf values of FEB and DIC were found to be 0.48 and 0.60, respectively. It was observed that the excipients did not interfere with the retention time and Rf values of the drugs. So, the methods developed for this combined dosage form are said to be selective. 2.6.7. Specificity Specificity of the method was assessed by comparing the chromatograms obtained for standard drugs with the chromatogram obtained for tablet solution. The retention time and Rf values of standard drugs and the drugs in sample solution were same, so the methods are specific. The results of system suitability parameters in HPLC are shown in Table 8. 2.6.8. Stability of analytical solution in HPLC Stability of sample solution was established by storage of sample solution at ambient temperature for 48 hours. FEB and DIC sample solution was re‐analyzed after 24 and 48 hr time intervals and assay value was determined and compared against fresh sample. Sample solution did not show any appreciable change in assay value when stored at ambient temperature up to 48 hr. It was found that the percentage labeled amounts of FEB at 0, 24 and 48 hr were 99.8, 100.1 and 100.5, respectively and the percentage labeled amounts of DIC were 100.1, 99.9 and 100.3, respectively. 3. Results and discussion Column chemistry, solvent type, solvent strength, detection wavelength and flow rate were varied to determine the chromatographic conditions giving the best separation. The mobile phase conditions were optimized so that the components were free from the interference of solvent and excipients. Sunitha and Ilango / European Journal of Chemistry 5 (3) (2014) 545‐549 549 Table 8. System suitability parameters in HPLC. Parameter FEB DIC Reference values Theoretical plates (N) 2216.17 2074 N > 2000 Peak asymmetry (T) 1.01 1.17 T ≤ 2 Capacity factor (K’) 1.06 1.61 1 < K' < 10 HETP (H) a 0.11 0.12 Selectivity (α) b 1.39 Α > 1 Resolution (Rs) b 2.511 Rs ≥ 2 a HETP (Height Equivalent to Theoretical Plate). b With respect to previous peak. Mobile phase and flow rate selection was based on peak parameters like height, area, tailing, theoretical plates, capacity factor, resolution and run time. In HPTLC, the effect of chamber saturation time on peak shapes, development pattern and Rf value were studied. The chamber saturation time was fixed as 30 min as the Rf value and resolution were satisfactory for FEB and DIC. Plate equilibration time was fixed as 20 min as the plates developed after 20 min of saturation showed good precision and reproducibility of peak area of drugs. The composition of solvent constituting the mobile phase was varied in order to study its effect on resolution of drugs. The analytes should have distinct retention time and Rf values for good resolution. The best result was obtained by use of 70:30 (v:v) ratio of methanol and 0.02 M KH2PO4 in HPLC and toluene:methanol in the ratio (7:3, v:v) in HPTLC. Under the optimum chromatographic conditions, the retention time obtained for FEB and DIC were 6.725 and 8.892 min, respectively, in HPLC method and Rf values for FEB and DIC were found to be 0.48 and 0.60, respectively, in HPTLC method. The values obtained for the validation parameters show that, the chromatographic conditions are appropriate for separation and determination of the compounds. 4. 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