Development and validation of a stability-indicating HPLC method for the determination of buclizine hydrochloride in tablets and oral suspension and its application to dissolution studies

NOTA TÉCNICA

Development and validation of a stability-indicating HPLC method for the determination of buclizine hydrochloride in tablets and oral suspension and its application to dissolution studies

Gislaine Kuminek^*; Hellen K. Stulzer; Monika P. Tagliari; Paulo R. Oliveira; Larissa S. Bernardi; Gabriela Rauber; Simone G. Cardoso

Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, 88040-900 Florianópolis - SC, Brasil

ABSTRACT

A method using liquid chromatography has been developed and validated for determination of buclizine in pharmaceutical formulations and in release studies. Isocratic chromatography was performed on a C18 column with methanol:water (80:20 v/v, pH 2.6) as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and UV detection at 230 nm. The method was linear, accurate, precise, sensible and robust. The dissolution test was optimized and validated in terms of dissolution medium, apparatus agitation and rotation speed. The presented analytical and dissolution procedures can be conveniently adopted in the quality and stability control of buclizine in tablets and oral suspension.

Keywords: buclizine; dissolution test; liquid chromatography.

INTRODUCTION

Buclizine Hydrochloride (BCZ), (RS)-1-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)-4-(4-chlorobenzhydryl)piperazine dihydrochloride (Figure 1),¹ is a piperazine derivative having antihistaminic, antimuscarinic, antiemetic and moderate sedative properties. BCZ, as its analogue meclizine, is mainly used in the prevention of motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, with analgesics in the treatment of migraine and as an appetite stimulant due to its orexigenic effect. This drug has also been used in the treatment of vertigo associated with disorders of the vestibular system, although its value in these conditions remains to be established.^1-3

Analytical methods have been published for the analysis of BCZ in tablet and human serum by LC^4,5 and by spectrophotometry.⁶ However, these methods lack stability indicating nature. Stability indicating methods can detect changes with time of drug substances and drug products. Information of degradation products over time is important for safety of drugs.⁷ Moreover, the published methods were not applied for oral suspension or for in vitro dissolution studies. This is important because the quality of oral solid pharmaceutical dosage forms depends on their ability to release the active ingredients in aqueous media in a consistent and reproducible manner, making the active substances available for gastrointestinal absorption. Therefore, the performance of oral solid dosage forms should be verified preferably with an in vitro dissolution test before the product is released to the market.⁸ The dissolution test has emerged as a valuable quality control tool to assess batch-to-batch product release performance and detection of manufacturing deviations. Besides, it may be relevant to the prediction of in vivo performance of the drug. In addition, dissolution is a requirement for regulatory approval for product marketing.^9-12 At the moment, no dissolution test has been described in literature for BCZ. The present work has two main objectives. The first is to develop and validate a stability-indicating method for determination of BCZ in tablets and oral suspension. The second objective is to apply the assay to the optimization and validation of dissolution test.

EXPERIMENTAL

Reagents and chemicals

BCZ standard was kindly donated by Medley (Campinas, SP, Brazil). Tablets and oral suspension where purchased at the local market. The tablets (Profol^®) labeled to contain 25 mg of the BCZ, 20 mg of tryptophan, 20 mg of pyridoxine hydrochloride, 50 µg of cyanocobalamin and the excipients: talc, dibasic calcium phosphate dehydrate, povidone, magnesium stearate and starch. The oral suspension (Profol^®) labeled to contain 1 mg/mL of BCZ, 2 mg/mL of tryptophan, 2 mg/mL of pyridoxine hydrochloride and 5 µg/mL of cyanocobalamin and the excipients: hydrochloric acid, sodium cyclamate, methylparaben, propylparaben, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, simethicone, sorbitol, sodium tartatre, cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate and deionized water. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was from Vetec (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil). HPLC-grade methanol was obtained from Tedia (Fairfield, OH, USA). Phosphate and acetate buffer solutions were prepared according to USP.¹³ For all the analyses, ultrapure water was obtained from Milli-Q^® apparatus (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). All chemicals used were of pharmaceutical or special analytical grade.

HPLC method

Chromatographic analyses were performed with a Shimadzu LC 10A vp system (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). The UV detector was set at 230 nm and peak areas were integrated automatically by computer using a Shimadzu Class VP V 6.14 software program. The experiments were carried out on a reversed-phase Waters Corporation (Ireland) X-Bridge C₁₈ column (250 mm x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 µm), maintained at 25 ± 1 ºC. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of methanol and water (80:20, v/v) at pH 2.6 adjusted with phosphoric acid, was eluted isocratically at a 1.0 mL/min flow rate. The injection volume was 20 µL and the retention time was about 6 min.

Preparation of standard solution

A standard stock solution containing 1 mg/mL of BCZ chemical reference standard was prepared in mobile phase. This solution was kept refrigerated and protected from light. Working solutions were prepared by diluting the stock solution as appropriate in mobile phase or dissolution medium depending on the analysis.

Preparation of sample solutions

Tablets

Twenty tablets were weighted and finely powdered. An amount of tablet equivalent to 50 mg of BCZ was accurately weighted, transferred into a 50 mL volumetric flask and 30 mL of the mobile phase was added. The solution was subjected to sonication for 45 min, brought to volume with mobile phase, and filtered through a 0.45 µm nylon membrane. Finally, 700 µL of the filtered solution was directly transferred to a 50 mL volumetric flask and diluted to volume with mobile phase obtaining the final concentration of 14 µg/mL.

Oral suspension

The suspension vial was stirred on a magnetic stir plate during 2 min to assure the homogeneity at the time to take the aliquot. An aliquot of 700 µL of the suspension was quantitatively transferred to a 50 mL volumetric flask containing 30 mL of mobile phase, and stirred in an ultrasonic bath for 45 min. The volume was completed with the mobile phase to obtain the final concentration of 14 µg/mL, and the resulted solution was filtered through a 0.45 µm nylon membrane before use.

Validation of the HPLC method

Specificity

In order to determine the specificity of the method, the absence of interference was checked by the placebo solution (tablets and oral suspension only with excipients and other combined drugs). Moreover, the specificity was determined according to ICH¹⁴ by the accelerated degradation. The stability-indicating capability of the method was determined by subjecting a standard stock solution (1000 µg/mL) to accelerated degradation by acidic, basic, oxidative, and photolytic conditions. It was taken 2 mL from this solution and transfered to 10 mL volumetric flask and brought to volume with 2 M hydrochloric acid, 2 M sodium hydroxide and 30% hydrogen peroxide to achieve a concentration of 200 µg/mL. The studies in acid conditions were carried out under reflux at 80 ºC for 4 h, and the solution was cooled at room temperature and neutralized with base. The alkaline degradation was induced by storing the samples solutions under reflux at 80 ºC for 4 h, cooled at room temperature and neutralized with acid. Oxidative degradation was obtained by treating the drug with 30% hydrogen peroxide, maintaining it protected from light at ambient temperature for 48 h. Photodegradation was achieved by exposing the standard solution in a photostability chamber to 200 W h/m² of near ultraviolet light for 48 h. After the described treatments, all the samples were diluted to 14 µg/mL with mobile phase, and analyzed.

Linearity

Linearity was determined by constructing three independent calibration curves. For the construction of each calibration curve 5 standard concentrations of BCZ in the range of 0.5-24 µg/mL were prepared using stock solution and mobile phase. The solutions were injected in triplicate and the linearity was estimated by linear regression.

Limits of quantitation and detection

The quantification limit (LOQ) and detection limit (LOD) were based on the standard deviation of the response and the slope of the mean of three calibration curves, as described in ICH.¹⁴

Accuracy

Accuracy of the LC method was evaluated by the recovery test of known amounts of the standard added to a sample solution (containing the excipients and 7 µg/mL of BCZ) to obtain solutions with final concentrations corresponding to 80, 100 and 120% of the nominal analytical concentration. The accuracy was calculated as the percentage of drug recovered from the formulation matrix.

Precision

The precision assay was investigated with respect to repeatability (intra-day) and intermediate precision (inter-day). The repeatability was evaluated by assaying 6 tablets and oral suspension samples (14 µg/mL), during the same day and under the same experimental conditions. The intermediate precision was assessed by carrying out the same analysis on 3 different days. The precisions were expressed as % RSD.

Robustness

The robustness of the developed method was examined against small and deliberate variations of critical parameters such as pH, composition of the mobile phase, flow rate and column temperature.

System suitability

The system suitability was evaluated by six replicate analyses of a BCZ solution at a concentration of 14 µg/mL. The calculated parameters were: peak area %, retention time, number of theoretical plates and tailing factor.

Dissolution testing

Dissolution study

The development and validation of the dissolution test was performed using a Varian dissolution test system, model VK 7000 multi-bath (n = 8) in accordance to USP Pharmacopoeia¹³ general method. All the dissolution samples were analyzed by LC assay as described above.

Solubility determination and sink conditions

The sink conditions were determined in different media. 0.01, 0.1 M HCl, aqueous solution with 0.5% of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), aqueous solution with 1.0% of SLS, aqueous solution with 1.5% of SLS, phosphate buffer pH 6.8 and acetate buffer pH 4.1 were tested. Vessels (n = 3) containing 240 mL of medium were pre-heated to 37 ± 0.5 ºC before adding an excess of BCZ (20 mg). The samples were gently rotated. Aliquots (5 mL) were withdrawn from each vessel after 1 and 2 h, filtered, neutralized, and analyzed.

Dissolution test conditions

The influence of different apparatus (USP basket and paddle) and different rotation speeds were evaluated. The medium volume used was 900 mL pre-heated to 37 ± 0.5 ºC. The dissolution medium pH was monitored before and after the performance of the tests. Sample aliquots of 10 mL were withdrawn at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min and replace with an equal volume of fresh medium to maintain a constant total volume. After the end of each test time, samples aliquots were filtered, diluted in methanol (1:1, v/v) and quantified. The assay of the tablets and oral suspension was performed using the validated LC method and the contents results were used to calculate the percentage of drug released on each time of dissolution profile. The cumulative percentage of drug released was plotted against time, in order to obtain the release profile and to calculate the in vitro dissolution data. BCZ stability in dissolution medium was evaluated using the same test conditions. Aliquots of the samples were tested after 2 h. The responses for the solutions were evaluated comparing with a freshly prepared standard. The assay was performed in triplicate. The filtration of BCZ standard and samples (tablets and oral suspension dissolved in dissolution medium) was evaluated using 0.45 µm cellulose acetate membrane filter (Vertical, Thailand), quantitative filter (J. Prolab, Brazil) and cellulose membrane filter together with quantitative filter. Unfiltered (centrifuged) solution was not evaluated because it could damage the column.

Validation of the dissolution method

The developed dissolution test was validated for specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision according to ICH guidelines and US Pharmacopoeia.^13,14

Specificity

Specificity was evaluated by preparing samples of placebo which consisted of all excipients present in formulations. Their concentrations were determined based in Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients¹⁵ and calculated for medium weight content. The samples of placebo were transferred to separate vessels (n = 3), filled with 900 mL of dissolution medium at 37 ± 0.5 ºC and stirred for 120 min at 100 rpm using basket. Samples aliquots were filtered, diluted in methanol (1:1, v/v) and analyzed.

Linearity

The nominal concentration of BCZ after the dissolution experiments - assuming quantitative dissolution - is 27.8 µg/mL (25 mg BCZ per tablet or 25 mL of a suspension (1 mg/mL) in 900 mL of dissolution medium). Before the injection, these solutions were diluted in methanol (1:1, v/v), to obtain good peak resolution, to a final concentration of 13.9 µg/mL. In order to bracket effectively the above mentioned concentration, linearity was validated in the range of 0.5-24 µg/mL, in dissolution medium, corresponding to approximately 4-180% of the target value.

Accuracy

The accuracy of the dissolution method was evaluated by the recovery of known amounts of BCZ added to placebo. Aliquots of 5, 25 and 30 mL of a 1 mg/mL BCZ standard solution dissolved in mobile phase was added to vessels containing dissolution medium for a final volume of 900 mL (final concentrations were 5.5, 27.8 and 33.3 µg/mL, respectively), and subjected to the dissolution test conditions described above. Placebo samples were prepared in the same way previously described in the specificity test.

Precision

The precision was determined by measuring the repeatability (intra-day) and the intermediate precision (inter-day), both expressed as % RSD. Tablets and oral suspension were subjected to dissolution test conditions (900 mL of dissolution medium pre-heated at 37 ºC ± 0.5, basket with stirring rate of 100 rpm for tablets and paddle with stirring rate of 25 rpm for oral suspension, both for 120 min) in the same day and in three different days.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

HPLC method

To obtain the best chromatographic condition, the mobile phase was optimized to provide adequate peak symmetry and sensitivity. Methanol, acetonitrile and water in different proportions were tested. The method proposed by Arayne et al. was also considered. The optimal results were achieved with a mobile phase of methanol in combination with water (80:20, v/v) pH adjusted to 2.6 with phosphoric acid, at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and 25 ºC of column temperature. In optimized chromatographic conditions the BCZ retention time was about 5.8 min, and a typical chromatogram obtained by the proposed method is shown in Figure 2a.

The chromatograms obtained with specificity test (not shown) showed that there is no interference or overlap of the excipients with the BCZ peak. Furthermore, specificity was confirmed through the stress study. These studies were performed to validate stability indicating capability of the developed method and to identify the key factors which will impact the stability of the drug product. The alkaline condition was excluded from the study, due to the fact that BCZ is insoluble in this condition of pH and precipitates, which makes impossible to quantify it. In this way, the stress study was performed only with photolytic, acid and oxidative conditions. Under photolytic conditions 91% of BCZ remained, and four well-separated degradations products were detected (Figure 2b). After acid hydrolysis the BCZ content decreased and two additional peaks were observed at 5 and 9 min (Figure 2c). Peaks at approximately 3 min correspond to HCl. The degradation of BCZ in acid conditions was found to be about 27% after 4 h of study. From the results of the oxidative studies (Figure 2d), it was observed only 0.7% of degradation without any additional peak. Peak at 2.8 min is due to H₂O₂. All additional peaks were resolved from BCZ peak.

The calibration curves constructed for BCZ were obtained by plotting peak area ratio against the concentration of the drug. Good linearity was observed in the 0.5 to 24 µg/mL range. The response for the drug was linear and the calibration equation was y = 37657x - 9081 (where, x is concentration and y is the peak absolute area), which showed good correlation coefficient (r = 0.9995) and intercept not different from 0 (p > 0.05). The detection and quantification limits were 0.06 µg/mL and 0.21 µg/mL respectively, showing the sensibility of the method.

Mean recovery of BCZ standard for low, medium and high level were, respectively, 98.5, 98.6 and 99.8% for tablets and 100.5, 100.2 and 101.2% for oral suspension, satisfying the acceptance criteria for the study.

A satisfactory intra-day and inter-day variability was obtained, as can be observed in Table 1. The amounts of BCZ found on 3 different days were equivalent (p > 0.05), and RSD values were found to be below 2.0%.

The degree of reproducibility of the results obtained as a result of small deliberate variations in the method parameters has proven that the method is robust and the data are summarized in Table 2.

The results obtained with system suitability tests confirmed that chromatographic system was adequate for the analyses. The RSD of peak area (0.46%) and retention time (0.04%) are within 2%. The efficiency of the column as expressed by number of theoretical plates was 5520 and the tailing factor was 1.26.

Dissolution testing

Solubility data were used as the basis for the selection of a dissolution medium for BCZ. Drug solubility was determined in different media, using an amount of the drug equivalent a three times of the dose in the pharmaceutical formulations. According to Table 3, aqueous solution with 1.5% of SLS was the best medium for the BCZ dissolution test and also ensured sink conditions. In this medium, BCZ was stable for 2 h (variation less than 2%). The filter evaluation is necessary to determine if it could be used in the dissolution test without adsorption of the drug. Besides, it removes insoluble excipients that may otherwise cause high background or turbity.¹⁶ The quantitative and 0.45 µm cellulose acetate filters showed recoveries between 98-102%. Nevertheless, due to low cost of quantitative filter when compared to 0.45 µm cellulose acetate filter, the first one was chosen.

Dissolution profile of tablets

The selection of the dissolution medium was based on the solubility data. Figure 3 shows the dissolution profiles of BCZ tablets obtained in 900 mL of aqueous solution with 1.5% of SLS medium in rotation speeds of 50, 75 and 100 rpm using basket and 50 and 75 rpm using paddle (n = 6). It was observed that more than 80% of drug was dissolved at 120 min in basket 75 and 100 rpm. In the other conditions the % drug dissolved was < 75 %. The analysis of variance of the dissolution efficiency (DE%) showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between the results obtained at 75 and 100 rpm (67.2 and 75.8%, respectively). It was observed that drug release percent and the DE were higher at 100 rpm. Basket apparatus is recommended, as a general rule, for dissolution test of capsules. However, by using paddle apparatus the BCZ tablets have adhered on the bottom of the vessel, making it unable to use. In this way, aqueous solution with 1.5% of SLS medium and basket in rotation speed of 100 rpm were the conditions selected for the dissolution test of tablets.

Dissolution profile of oral suspension

Figure 4 shows the dissolution profiles of BCZ oral suspension in 900 mL of aqueous solution with 1.5% of SLS medium in rotation speeds of 25 and 50 rpm, using paddle apparatus. The statistical analysis at 0.05 significance level showed significant difference between the DE of 25 and 50 rpm (84.3 and 91.7, respectively).Using 50 rpm the dissolution proceeds too quickly, almost 100% of the drug was dissolved in 30 min. On the other hand, rotational speed of 25 rpm produced a better discriminating dissolution profile. Based in these results, the selected rotation for dissolution test validation was 25 rpm.

Validation of dissolution test

The chromatogram obtained through the injection of placebo solution did not present any other peak in the same retention time of BCZ. According to the USP Forum¹⁶ the lack of chromatographic peaks from the placebo formulation demonstrates the specificity of the method.

The representative linear equation was y = 34083x - 5074 (where, x is concentration and y is the peak absolute area) and the correlation coefficient was r = 0.9990, indicating good linearity. The validity of the assay was verified by means of ANOVA, which demonstrated significant linear regression and non-significant linearity deviation (p > 0.05). In the accuracy test, the mean recovery percentages for low, medium and high level were, respectively, 96.9, 101.8 and 100.4% for tablets and 104.5, 101.3 and 103.9% for oral suspension, confirming the accuracy of the method.

All the data for the repeatability and intermediate precision (Table 4) are within the acceptance criteria of 5%.¹⁶

CONCLUSIONS

A stability-indicating LC method was developed and validated to the routine quality control of BCZ in pharmaceutical formulations and was satisfactory in the quantitation of BCZ tablets and oral suspension from the dissolution tests. The method showed to be specific, linear, accurate, precise, sensible and robust. In dissolution test, the use of 900 mL of aqueous solution with 1.5% of SLS medium, basket at 100 rpm stirring speed and paddle at 25 rpm stirring speed as apparatus for tablets and oral suspension, respectively, provided satisfactory results for both products. In these conditions, the BCZ stability was guarantee. The dissolution test was validated and showed to be specific, linear, precise and accurate. The % dissolved for all products was > 75% in 30 min, and the suggested acceptance criteria could be 80% in 45 min.

Recebido em 10/3/11; aceito em 24/5/11; publicado na web em 22/7/11

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Feb 2012
• Date of issue
  2012

History

• Received
  10 Mar 2011
• Accepted
  24 May 2011