Open Access Research Article
Musirike et al., Pharm Anal Acta 2015, 6:10
10.4172/2153-2435.1000431
Volume 6 • Issue 10 • 1000431
Pharm Anal Acta
ISSN: 2153-2435 PAA, an open access journal
Abstract
A novel high speed, high resolution Reverse phase-UPLC method was developed for the quantification of related
substances in Febuxostat drug substance. The separation of drug from the possible impurities was achieved on a
Halo C18 column. The innovative approach of using stationary phase with sub 2 µ particles provides a comprehensive
combination of selectivity and speed. 10 mM mono basic potassium phosphate buffer at pH 2.7 and acetonitrile
mixture was selected as mobile phase. Flow rate and detection were kept at 0.8 mL/min and 320 nm respectively.
The developed UPLC method was subjected to validation parameters. System precision, accuracy, specificity,
limit of detection, limit of quantification and linearity were established as per the guidelines recommended by ICH.
Stability indicating nature of the method was also performed by exposing the sample under various conditions like
acid, base, peroxide and photo stability exposures. Total analysis run time 7.0 minutes indicates the speed and
cost saving initiation of the developed method. Using the method one can carry out the quantitative estimation of
related substances in Febuxostat drug substance, further the same method can be adopted for determination of drug
substance assay also.
Development and Validation of Reverse Phase-Ultra Performance Liquid
Chromatographic Method for Estimation of Related Substances in
Febuxostat Drug Substance
Maheswara Reddy Musirike*, Hussain Reddy K and Useni Reddy Mallu
Department of Chemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh- 515003, India
*Corresponding author: Maheswara Reddy Musirike, Department of
Chemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Kadiri- Ananthapur Hwy, kandukuru,
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh 515591, India, Tel: 085542 55700; E-mail:
musirikemahesh@gmail.com
Received September 16, 2015; Accepted October 16, 2015; Published October
19, 2015
Citation: Musirike MR, Hussain Reddy K, Mallu UR (2015) Development and Vali-
dation of Reverse Phase-Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for
Estimation of Related Substances in Febuxostat Drug Substance. Pharm Anal Acta
6: 431. doi:10.4172/21532435.1000431
Copyright: © 2015 Musirike MR, et al. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits un-
restricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original
author and source are credited.
Keywords: Febuxostat; Ultra performance liquid chromatography;
Hyperuricemia with gout; Related compounds; Xanthine oxidase
inhibitor
Introduction
Febuxostat is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor indicated for the
chronic management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout [1]. e
recommended starting dose of drug is 40 mg once daily. For patients
who do not achieve a serum uric acid less than 6 mg per dL aſter 2
weeks with 40 mg, Uloric 80 mg is recommended. e primary mode
of action of a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, achieves its therapeutic effect
by decreasing serum uric acid.e objective of this work was to develop
a cost effective ultra fast reverse phase UPLC method, the developed
method was validated as per regulatory guidelines and transfer the
method to quality control lab for analysis of related substances in
Febuxostat. As per the literature Febuxostat Determination was done
by spectrophotometric method [2] and RP-HPLC [3,4] methods.
LC-MS/MS [5-7] assay method was proposed for bioequivalence and
pharmacokinetics evaluation. Since this drug is being marketed in
domestic and international market the present investigation by the
author was to develop a rapid, accurate and precise RP-UPLC method
[8-10] for the determination of related substances. e aim of this
paper is to develop a cost effective and fast method. e run time for
the newly developed method was 7.0 minutes. e innovative approach
of using stationary phase with sub 2 µ particles [11-14] provides a
comprehensive combination of selectivity and speed. e validation
parameters [15,16] provide valuable information on precision
accuracy, limit of detection, limit of quantification and linearity of
related substances. e method was subjected to validation according
to ICH requirements [17,18] (Figure 1).
Materials and Methods
Instrumentation and reagents
Test samples and reference standards of Febuxostat were donated
by Apotex India pvt ltd. Acetonitrile was purchased from Ultra Scan
Ltd. Ultra performance liquid chromatography from Waters with
gradient elution. MilliQ purification system was used to get HPLC
grade water. Halo C18, 100 x 2.1 mm 2.7 µm column purchased from
advanced materials technology.
Chromatographic conditions
e chromatographic separation was achieved on a Halo C18, 100
x 2.1 mm 2.7 µm Column. Mobile phase consists of 10 mM monobasic
phosphate buffer with 0.2% Triethyl amine and pH of the solution was
adjusted to 2.7. HPLC grade acetonitrile was used as organic modifier.
Mobile phase flow rate was kept at 0.8 mL/min. Gradient program
was set as Time/% of solution B: 0/40, 3/40, 3.5/70, 4/75, 5/80, 5.5/40,
7/40. Column temperature was maintained at 50
°
C and detection was
carried at 320 nm. Sample compartment was maintained at 10
°
C with
an injection volume of 1 µL.
Preparation of standard and sample
A mixture of standard solution was prepared by weighing
febuxostat and its related compounds to yield a final concentration
of 0.10% of febuxostat and 0.15% of each Impurity A, Impurity B,
Impurity C and Impurity D with respect to the sample concentration
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ISSN: 2153-2435
Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta