Nizatidine Stability Indicating Assay Method HPLC 02
Nizatidine Stability Indicating Assay Method HPLC 02
Nizatidine Stability Indicating Assay Method HPLC 02
Cairo University
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
KEYWORDS
Nizatidine;
HPLC-DAD;
Stability-indicating determination;
Forced degradation;
Capsules dosage form
Abstract This work describes the stability-indicating determination of the H2-receptor antagonist
nizatidine in its bulk and capsules dosage form using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The developed method involved the use of Thermo
Hypersil BDS-C8 (4.6 250 mm, 5 lm particle size) column and a mobile phase composed of
0.05 M phosphoric acid and acetonitrile (50:50, v/v). The mobile phase was pumped at a ow rate
of 1 mL/min. Quantication of nizatidine was based on measuring its peak area at 320 nm. The
retention time for nizatidine was about 3.61 min. The reliability and analytical performance of
the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to linearity, range, precision,
accuracy, specicity, robustness, detection and quantication limits. Calibration curve of nizatidine
was linear in the range of 550 lg/mL with correlation coefcient >0.9999. The drug was subjected
to forced-degradation conditions of acidic and basic hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and UV photolysis where it showed considerable degradation in basic and oxidative conditions. The proposed
method proved to be specic and stability-indicating by resolution of the drug from its forceddegradation products. The validated HPLC method was applied to the analysis of nizatidine in
capsules dosage form where it was quantied with recoveries not less than 98.2%. Assay results
were statistically compared to USP 2011 pharmacopeial method where no signicant difference
was observed between the proposed and reference methods.
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1. Introduction
Nizatidine (NZ) (Fig. 1) chemically known as N-[2-[[[2[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]ethyl]-N0 -methyl2-nitro-1,1-ethenediamine, is a histamine H2-antagonist. It
inhibits the actions of histamine mediated by H2-receptors
such as gastric acid secretion and pepsin output. It is used
where the inhibition of gastric acid secretion may be benecial,
1110-0931 2013 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University.
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bfopcu.2013.05.001
186
H 3C
N
CH3
Figure 1
NO2
2. Experimental
2.1. Instrumentation
N
H
N
H
CH3
as in peptic ulcer disease including stress ulceration, gastroesophageal reux, dyspepsia, pathological hypersecretory
states such as the ZollingerEllison syndrome and in patients
at risk of acid aspiration during general anesthesia.1
NZ is an ofcial drug in both the British Pharmacopoeia
(BP 2010)2 and the Unites States Pharmacopeia (USP 2011)3
where HPLC procedures are described for the assay of the
bulk powder and dosage forms (capsules and intravenous infusion). The analytical prole4 of NZ provides a survey for the
reported methods of analysis during the eighties of the last century. Moreover, the quantication of NZ in its pharmaceutical
formulations and/or biological samples was addressed in several reports. Analytical methodology in these reports involved
the use of potentiometric titration with palladium (II) chloride,5 oxidimetric titration with N-bromosuccinimide,6 DC
and differential-pulse polarography,7 cathodic stripping voltammetry on hanging mercury drop electrode8 and several color-producing spectrophotometric methods employing various
reactions and reagents.6,812 Recently, a sensitive uorescence
probe for determination of NZ in tablets and biological uids
was presented.13 Also, the scientic literature showed the use
of separation techniques such as capillary zone electrophoresis
for separation and simultaneous determination of some H2
receptor antagonists including NZ,14,15 HPLC-tandem mass
spectrometry (LCMSMS) for detection of eight anti-ulcer
drugs simultaneously in horse urine16 and several HPLC-UV
detection methods which were directed for NZ determination
in commercial products17 or in human plasma and urine samples.1820
A review of the literature reveals a few number of reported
stability indicating assay methods for NZ. Spectrophotometric
stability indicating assay methods for the determination of intact NZ in the presence of its degradation products were developed.21,22 These methods involved the formation of colored
products between NZ and bromophenol blue21 or 3-methyl2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH)22 followed by measuring peak heights of their rst derivative spectra. Stability
indicating determination of NZ in the presence of its oxidative
degradation product (sulfoxide derivative) was carried out
using derivative and derivative ratio spectrophotometry as well
as TLC densitometry.23 Recently, RP-HPLC was adopted for
the stability indicating determination of NZ in the presence of
its impurities and forced degradation products.24 Finally, a
RP-UPLC method was reported for the stability indicating assay of oral liquid pharmaceutical formulation containing NZ,
methylparaben and propylparaben.25
The aim of this work is the development, validation and
application of a simple, rapid, selective and reliable HPLCDAD method for the analysis of NZ in bulk powder and in
capsules dosage form. The method was thoroughly tested for
its specicity and stability-indicating properties by resolution
of the parent drug from its forced hydrolytic, oxidative, dry
heat and photolytic degradation products.
The HPLC-DAD system consisted of Agilent 1200 series (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) (quaternary pump,
vacuum degasser and diode array, autosampler and thermostated column compartment) connected to a computer loaded
with Agilent ChemStation software. Columns used in the study
were Thermo Hypersil BDS-C8 (4.6 250 mm, 5 lm particle
size), Thermo Hypersil BDS-C18 (4.6 250 mm, 5 lm particle
size) and Zorbax Eclipse XDBC18 (4.6 150 mm, 5 lm particle size). Filtration was done using cellulose nitrate membrane lters (0.45 lm pore size) (Sartorius Stedim Biotech
GmbH, Goettingen, Germany) with the aid of VALUE
VG215 2-stage vaccum pump (Zhejiang, China).
2.2. Materials and chemicals
Authentic sample of Nizatidine (NZ) was kindly provided by
the Alexandria Company for Pharmaceuticals and Chemical
Industries, Alexandria, Egypt, and was certied to contain
99.5% NZ. Analytical grade of orthophosphoric acid, sodium
hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, 30% hydrogen peroxide and
high purity distilled water were used. HPLC grade acetonitrile
and methanol (LAB-SCAN Analytical Sciences, Poland) were
used. Pharmaceutical formulation assayed in the study was
Ulcfree capsules (EVA Pharma for Pharmaceuticals & Medical Appliances, Giza, Egypt, BN. 905656) labeled to contain
150 mg of NZ per capsule, and it was purchased from the local
market.
2.3. General procedure
The optimal composition of the mobile phase was determined
to be acetonitrile and 0.05 M phosphoric acid (50:50, v/v). The
mobile phase was pumped isocratically at a ow rate of 1 mL/
min. The injection volume was 20 lL. The eluant was monitored by the diode array detector from 190 to 400 nm, and
chromatograms were recorded at 210, 254 and 320 nm. All
determinations were performed at 25 C.
NZ stock standard solution (1000 lg/mL) was prepared in
HPLC-grade methanol. The prepared stock solution was
stored and refrigerated at 4 C. The working solutions were
prepared by the dilution of NZ stock standard solution
with the mobile phase to reach the concentration range of
550 lg/mL. Triplicate 20 lL injections were made for each
concentration and chromatographed under the previously
described LC conditions. The peak areas at 320 nm were
plotted against the corresponding concentrations to construct
the calibration graph.
2.4. Assay of capsules
The contents of 10 Ulcfree capsules were accurately weighed,
mixed, nely powdered and the average weight per capsule was
determined. An accurate weight of the nely powdered sample
equivalent to 50 mg of NZ was extracted into 25 mL methanol
(HPLC grade) with the aid of sonication for 30 min then ltered into a 50 mL-volumetric ask. The residue was washed
HPLC-DAD stability indicating determination of nizatidine in bulk and capsules dosage form
with 2 10 mL portions of methanol and washings were added
to the ltrate. The ltrate was diluted to volume with methanol
to reach a nal concentration of 1000 lg/mL for NZ (stock
sample solution). For the prepared stock sample solution, further dilutions in the mobile phase were made to obtain sample
solutions of nal concentrations within the linearity range of
550 lg/mL, and the general procedure was then followed.
Recovery values were calculated from similarly treated standard solutions. For standard addition assay, sample solutions
were spiked with aliquots of stock standard NZ to obtain total
concentrations within the previously specied range then treated as under general procedure. Recovered concentrations
were calculated by comparing the analyte response with the
increment response attained after the addition of the standard.
2.5. Preparation of forced-degradation solutions
For the acid and base forced degradation solutions, volumes of
1 mL of NZ stock standard solution were transferred into 50mL volumetric asks. Volumes of 2-mL of 1 M HCl or 1 M
NaOH were added and the mixtures were kept at room temperature for 24 h. Similar reaction mixtures were prepared in
test tubes and were placed in a water-bath at 80 C for 2 h
(for the acid degradation solution) and 30 min (for the base
degradation solution). During heating, volume loss was compensated with methanol. After the specied time intervals,
the mixtures in the test tubes were quantitatively transferred
into 50-mL volumetric asks. All solutions were neutralized
with appropriate volumes of 1 M NaOH or 1 M HCl and diluted to volume with mobile phase to reach nal concentrations of 20 lg/mL NZ.
For the oxidative degradation solution, a volume of 1 mL
of NZ stock standard solution was transferred into a 50-mL
volumetric ask. A volume of mL of H2O2 6% (prepared
by dilution of hydrogen peroxide 30% with water) was added
and the mixture was kept at room temperature for 24 h. Another similar reaction mixture was prepared in a test tube
and was placed in a water-bath at 80 C for 30 min. After
the specied time interval, the mixture in the test tube was
quantitatively transferred into a 50-mL volumetric ask, and
then both solutions were diluted to volume with mobile phase
to reach nal concentrations of 20 lg/mL NZ.
For the UV photolytic and dry heat degradations, amounts
of NZ powder (50 mg) were subjected to UV irradiation at
254 nm for 3 h or kept in an oven at 100 C for 24 h. After
the specied time intervals, each powder was dissolved in
methanol, and aliquots of these methanolic stocks were diluted
with the mobile phase to reach nal concentrations of 20 lg/
mL NZ.
187
188
Table 1
Column
Mobile phase
Wavelength (nm)
HPLC-DAD stability indicating determination of nizatidine in bulk and capsules dosage form
189
ratio method and are given in Table 2. Both LOD and LOQ values conrm the sensitivity of the proposed HPLC procedure.
3.3.3. Accuracy and precision
3.3.4. Robustness
Value
550
7.61
0.87 (874.6)
44.11
0.61
0.999925
8.17
0.27
10.50
0.31
1.03
yintercept
% y-intercept = peak area at 100%
target concentration 100
Sa: standard deviation of intercept.
c
Sb: standard deviation of slope.
d
Sy/x: standard deviation of residuals (standard error of
estimate).
a
The within-day (intra-day) precision and accuracy for the proposed method were studied at three concentration levels (10,
20 and 40 lg/mL) using three replicate determinations for each
concentration within one day. Similarly, the between-day (inter-day) precision and accuracy were tested by analyzing the
same three concentrations using three replicate determinations
repeated for three days. Recovered concentrations were calculated using the corresponding regression equation and they
were satisfactory. The percentage relative standard deviation
(RSD%) and percentage relative error (Er%) were less than
1.5% proving the high repeatability and accuracy of the developed method for the estimation of NZ in bulk form (Table 3).
The robustness of an analytical procedure is a measure of its capability to remain unaffected by small but deliberate variations in
method parameters and provides an indication of its reliability during normal usage.3,27 Robustness was examined by making small
changes in acetonitrile content in the mobile phase (2%), ow
rate (0.05 mL/min), column temperature (2 C) or working
wavelength (2 nm) and examining the results. These variations
did not have any signicant effect on the measured response (peak
area) or retention time of NZ. Table 4 shows the effects of the studied variations on the retention time and peak area of NZ. Additionally, these minor experimental changes did not affect the separation
of NZ from its degradation products.
3.3.5. Specicity and selectivity
Specicity of the method was assessed by comparing the chromatograms obtained from standard solution with the chromatograms obtained from capsules sample solution. As the
retention time of the standard drug and the retention time of
the drug in capsule test solution were the same, so the method
was specic. On the other hand, the use of photodiode array
detector allowed conrming the selectivity of the method by
comparison with the reference drug spectrum, hence the method proved to be selective in separation of the investigated drug.
Selectivity was also demonstrated by the separation of NZ
from forced degradation products and formulation additives.
3.3.6. Stability of solutions
The stability of the analytes working solutions in the mobile
phase was examined, and no chromatographic changes were
observed within 5 h at room temperature. Also, the stock solutions prepared in HPLC-grade methanol were stable for at
least one week when stored and refrigerated at 4 C.
3.4. Assay of capsules
The developed stability-indicating HPLC procedure was applied to the assay of NZ in the pharmaceutical formulation
available in the local market (Ulcfree capsules). The active
ingredient eluted at its specic retention time, and no interfering
peaks were observed in the chromatograms of NZ capsules. The
diode-array detection enables peak purity verication where no
signs of co-elution from any of the inactive components were
190
Accuracy and precision for the analysis of NZ in bulk form using the proposed HPLC-DAD method.
Within-day
Between-day
a
b
c
Table 4
Nominal value
(lg/mL)
RSD(%)b
Er (%)c
10
20
40
10
20
40
9.93 0.07
19.74 0.16
40.01 0.23
9.96 0.11
19.98 0.27
40.19 0.34
0.71
0.81
0.58
1.10
1.35
0.85
0.70
1.30
0.03
0.40
0.10
0.48
Chromatographic
parameter
NZ peak area
NZ retention
time (min)
3.81
3.74
3.70
1.49
868
831
803
3.91
3.95
3.74
3.58
4.94
835
831
823
0.74
3.76
3.74
3.71
0.67
817
831
828
0.89
detected. Recoveries were calculated using both external standard and standard addition methods. The assay results revealed
satisfactory accuracy and precision as indicated from % recovery, SD and RSD% values (Table 5).
Furthermore, the USP reference HPLC method3 was applied for the estimation of NZ in its commercial product.
The pharmacopeial method is based on the analysis of NZ
Table 5 Analysis of NZ in its pharmaceutical preparation (Ulcfree capsules) using the proposed HPLCDAD method and the reference method.
Method results
a
%Recovery SD
RSD%b
t
F
External standard
Reference method3
Standard addition
99.24 0.552
0.556
1.78
1.85
99.78 0.406
0.407
99.08 0.791
0.798
Theoretical values for t and F at P = 0.05 are 2.31 and 6.39, respectively.
a
Mean standard deviation for ve determinations.
b
% Relative standard deviation.
HPLC-DAD stability indicating determination of nizatidine in bulk and capsules dosage form
indicating TLC-densitometry procedure which was only applied for the assay of NZ in the presence of its oxidative degradation product.23 The method holds a challenge and is
advantageously compared with the other reported liquid chromatographic methods,2,3,18,25,26 briey mentioning the following points: short run time (5 min), simple since no internal
standard is required and the mobile phase is pumped isocratically while multi-step gradient elutions are applied in other
procedures24,25 and nally the developed method made use
of the diode array detector as a tool for peak identity and purity conrmation; however, it can be adapted to conventional
HPLC with UV detection which is the most popular in quality
control laboratories.
5. Conict of interest
None.
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