Development and Validation of a Stability-indicating RP-HPLC Method for Estimation of Metformin and Rosuvastatin along with Impurities from a Combined Oral Solid Dosage Form

*Corresponding Author:

M. K. Vadlamudi
Analytical Research and Development, Ashland India Private Limited, Hyderabad-500 078, India
E-mail: manojvadlamudi2023@gmail.com

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Abstract

The objective of current study was to develop and validate a stability-indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for simultaneous quantification of impurities in metformin sustained release-rosuvastatin immediate release combined oral solid dosage form as per ICH guidelines. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Waters HPLC system with a YMC-Pack ODS-A 100×4.6 mm; 3 µm column. Mobile phase A comprised of 20 mM ammonium acetate:acetonitrile (9:1 v/v) pH 3.5, and mobile phase B, consisted of 20 mM ammonium acetate:acetonitrile:methanol (3:5:2 v/v/v) pH 3.5. The gradient program was set as (T/% B) 0/30, 5/30, 10/50, 30/50, 40/80, 42/30 and 45/30, which pumped at a rate of 0.9 ml/min. About 10 μl of sample solutions were injected and monitored at 240 nm. Column temperature and sample compartment was maintained at 25° and 5°, respectively. Forced degradation studies revealed that the peak threshould was more than the peak purity and no purity flag was observed. Repeatability, intra, and inter-day precision results were well within the tolerable limits. Limits of detection were found to be 0.10, 0.05, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.40 ppm and limits of quantitation as 0.30, 0.15, 0.45, 0.60 and 1.0 ppm for metformin, rosuvastatin, rosuvastatin impurity A, B, and C, respectively. The correlation coefficient of linearity for metformin, rosuvastatin and its impurities were found to be ≥0.999. The method recovery was found between 99 and 102 %. The proposed method appeared to be a simple, rapid, economical, accurate, specific, robust and able to distinguish the two key components from their degradants, impurities, and excipients. Therefore, current method could be applied successfully for stability and routine examination.

Keywords

Stability-indicating RP-HPLC, metformin, rosuvastatin, ICH guidelines, forced degradation studies and validation

Metformin hydrochloride (MET), chemically 1,1-dimethylbiguanide, was initially developed from a herb, Galega officinalis and first manufactured in 1922 in Dublin as a blood glucose lowering agent [1,2]. It is also beneficial for obese diabetic people [1,3]. MET first introduced into clinic in 1950s has been extensively used as a first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes people. MET regulates glucose metabolism principally via preventing hepatic glucose production [4-7]. Recently, MET has found to be useful in the treatment of various cancers especially prostate, colon, and breast [8-10].

Rosuvastatin calcium (ROS), chemically calcium;(E,3R,5S)-7-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-[methyl (methylsulfonyl)amino]-6-propan-2-ylpyrimidin-5-yl]-3,5-dihydroxyhept-6-enoate, which is a statin, used clinically to treat hypercholesterolemia in both patients with recognized cardiovascular illness as well as those at high risk to develop atherosclerosis [11-13].

As per the American Diabetes Association guiding principle, adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus should ideally have <100 mg/dl of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, if necessary with the help of statins as a first-line therapy [13,14]. Among atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin, ROS was found to be more efficient in reducing LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients [15-17]. In general, adults diagnosed with diabetes have high or borderline total cholesterol levels. Hence treatment regimen should include statins to maintain the cholesterol level and to reduce the risk of heart attack. A recent patent application on pharmaceutical composition comprising MET and ROS appealing the benefit of diminishing side effects produced by statins, enhances safety and patient’s convenience and compliance with its one per day dosage [18,19]. Diabetes frequently is connected with quicker atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular illness and exposes the type 2 diabetic patients to 2 to 4 times greater hazard of developing heart-related problems resulting in higher mortality rates due to atherosclerotic complications. Higher glycemic levels in the body might cause essential tissue malfunction, increases lipid biosynthesis and dyslipidaemia. hyperglycaemia may increase the formation of reactive oxygen species, which result in increased glycation products. Glycation of lipoproteins and VLDL together leads to diabetesinduced dyslipidaemia [20-22].

Diabetic patients might also end up with dyslipidemia, in which case monotherapy with an antidiabetic agent might not be adequate to reach the target glycemic and lipid goals, consequently a combination of antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic drug might be essential to attain it. Novel amalgamation of sustained release (SR) MET and immidiate release (IR) ROS is recommended for glycemic as well as lipid control in the blood [20,23].

Literature survey disclosed that there were only limited approaches available, which aimed at the simultaneous determination of MET and ROS in a single methodology [19,20,24]. Few other studies discussed about simultaneous determination of MET and ROS [19,20,24]. Liquid chromatography combination method was developed and validated for assay in human plasma [25]. However, no method was reported for simultaneous determination of MET, ROS and its impurities. The eventual aim of this effort is to develop and validate a single reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method to afford simultaneous quantitation of MET, ROS, ROS impurity A (ROS A), ROS impurity B (ROS B) and ROS impurity C (ROS C). The structures of MET, ROS, ROS A, B, and C are shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: Structures of MET, ROS, and impurities ROS A, B and C
Structures of a. metformin (MET), b. rosuvastatin (ROS) and ROS impurities c. ROS A, d. ROS B and e. ROS C

Materials and Methods

Chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade. Acetonitrile, methanol, ammonium acetate and orthophosphoric acid were procured from Merck- Germany, and Milli-Q water was obtained from a Millipore system (Merck-Millipore, Bradford). Drug substances, excipients, and impurities were procured from Ashland India Pvt., Ltd., Hyderabad.

Chromatographic conditions:

Waters Alliance HPLC e2695 was connected to a 2998 PDA detector using the Empower3 software. The chromatographic separation was achieved on YMCPack ODS-A 100×4.6 mm; 3 μm column. Mobile phase A contained 20 mM ammonium acetate:acetonitrile (pH 3.5, 9:1 v/v) and mobile phase B contained 20 mM ammonium acetate:acetonitrile:methanol (pH 3.5, 3:5:2 v/v/v). The gradient program was set as (T/% B) 0/30, 5/30, 10/50, 30/50, 40/80, 42/30 and 45/30, which pumped at 0.9 ml/min. Column and sample compartment was maintained at 25 and 5°, respectively. About 10 μl of sample solutions were injected and monitored at 240 nm.

Preparation of pharmaceutical oral solid dosage form (OSDF):

In-house tablets were manufactured by first preparing MET SR blend using the hot melt extrusion and the ROS IR blend using the direct compression process separately and compressing together these two as a bilayered tablet. Core tablets were coated with moisture guard materials. In vitro dissolution was performed as per Indian Pharmacopeia (IP) monograph and the results are tabulated in the Table 1.

Table 1: Dissolution Analysis

Sample preparation for in-house or marketed generic MET SR/ROS IR OSDF:

Twenty tablets of either in-house prepared or marketed generic MET SR/ROS IR were ground and triturated into a fine, evenly size powder in a mortar. Powder equivalent to the average tablet weight was weighed and transferred to a 25 ml volumetric flask, which contained 20 ml of methanol. The mixture was sonicated for 30 min and the volume was made up tp the mark with methanol after the solution reached room temperature. The contents of the volumetric flask were centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 min, filtered through 0.45 μm polyvinylidene difluoride membrane filter and the clear filtrate was injected in to the HPLC.

Analytical method development:

During method development, different trials were carried out to shorten the runtime, improve the resolution and retain MET. All experiments were conducted using the mobile phase A and B. However, the method development was carried out by changing the gradient programs, flow rates, and column chemistry.

Determination of relative response factors (RRF):

RRF was calculated by injecting all the impurities including MET and ROS as an unknown sample from 0.5 to 6 ppm onto the HPLC system. RRF was estimated by dividing the slope of each impurity to the slope of ROS from the linearity curve. The relative retention time of MET, ROS A, ROS, ROS B and ROS C was found to be 0.06, 0.88, 1.00, 1.07 and 1.59 min, respectively. The RRF of MET, ROS A, ROS, ROS B and ROS C was found to be 1.11, 0.77, 1.00, 0.82 and 0.29, respectively.

System suitability study (SSS) is an integral part of the chromatographic system to ensure that chromatographic system are adequate for examination to be done. SSS was carried out on a freshly prepared standard solution containing ROS, ROS A, and ROS B to inspect the resolution between the peaks. The resolution was found to be 5.1 between ROS A and ROS. The resolution was found to be 2.9 between ROS and ROS B.

Robustness is a part of the analytical process where the degree of its capacity to persist unaffected by minor and deliberate variations in method parameters and also to confirm its reliability throughout the regular analysis. It was evaluated by making changes in the buffer pH (±0.1), least mobile phase composition (±10 %), flow rate (±0.1 ml/min), oven temperature (±2°), wavelength (±2 nm) and the column of a different lot of stationary phase [26,27].

Validation is a process by which method gets an assurance for intended use to perform a regular analysis, and it can also judge the quality, accuracy, and consistency of results. Moreover, it’s an essential part of good analytical practice [26]. As per International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines specificity, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantization, linearity, accuracy and range were considered for the validation [26]. Specificity is a capability of measuring the analyte apparently in the existence of compounds, which might be in the form of a matrix, impurities, and degradants [26].

Precision indicates the closeness of agreement among the sequence of measurements attained after several samplings of a homogeneous sample under similar method parameters. As per ICH guidelines, precision divided as repeatability, intermediate precision, and reproducibility [26]. Precision sample solution contains MET, ROS, ROS A, B and C. Repeatability established by injecting the six sample preparations under the similar operating circumstances. Intermediate precision conducted nine measures each three come by changing the analyst, instrument and day. Reproducibility comes under the inter-lab evaluation, hence not covered in this study.

Limit of detection is the lowermost quantity of analyte in a sample which can be detected but need not be inherently quantitated as a precise value. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) is the lowermost quantity of analyte in a sample, which needs to be quantitatively determined with appropriate precision and accuracy [26]. LOD and LOQ established using calibration curve method by injecting the series of concentrations, which includes detection limit range containing MET, ROS, ROS A, B, and C. LOD = (3.3 σ)/S; LOQ = (10 σ)/S, where, σ is the standard deviation of area response, S is the slope of the calibration curve.

Linearity is an analytical procedure, which demonstrates that area responses are directly proportional to the concentration of an analyte in a specified range [26]. Five concentration stages established between LOQ and 150 % concerning test level for MET, ROS, ROS A, B, and C.

Accuracy is an analytical procedure, which delivers nearness of agreement among the current actual/ reference value, and the value found [26]. Accuracy evaluated using 12 determinations over four concentration levels of LOQ, 50, 100 and 150 % concerning sample test level. Range is a systematic analytical process, which exhibits the appropriate precision, accuracy, and linearity over the interval range of higher and lower concentration of impurities in the sample [26]. It’s already been covered in accuracy and linearity parameters.

Forced degradation studies:

Chemical stability of a drug substance is a matter of great concern as it affects the safety and efficacy of the drug product. The US-FDA and ICH guidance committee stated the necessity of stability testing data is to recognize, how the excellence of a drug product changes with time under the influence of various environmental factors. Forced degradation is a process that includes the degradation of drug products at conditions simpler than accelerated conditions thus generate degradation products that can be studied to determine the stability of the molecule [28]. Information about the stability of a molecule helps in selecting proper formulation, package, and storage conditions which are crucial for regulatory documentation. The details of ICH guideline proposed that stress testing is planned to identify the likely degradation products, which further assists in the determination of the intrinsic stability of the molecule and will establish the degradation pathways to validate the stability indicating procedures [29-31]. To prove that the method is stabilityindicating, equivalent tablet powder of MET SR/ROS IR in-house combination tablets exposed forcefully to acidic, alkaline, oxidative, thermal, neutral and photolytic conditions.

Acidic, alkaline, oxidative and neutral conditions:

About 5 ml of each 0.1 N hydrochloric acid, 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, 3 % hydrogen peroxide and water added to separate stock solutions of MET placebo, ROS placebo, and MET SR/ROS IR combination in-house tablet powder, respectively. The respective solutions refluxed at 80° for 4 h. Further, the acid- and alkaliexposed solutions were neutralized by adding acid to alkaline and vice versa for an acid-refluxed solution and then made up to mark with methanol; again, further diluted respective sample solutions to assay concentrations for determinations of mass balance.

Thermal condition:

Stock solutions of MET placebo, ROS placebo, MET SR/ROS IR combination in-house tablet powder were exposed thermally at 105° for a week. Sample solutions were prepared as per the concentrations and injected onto the RP-HPLC system.

Photo stability condition:

Stock solutions of MET placebo, ROS placebo, and MET SR/ROS IR combination in-house tablet powder exposed to light providing a total luminosity of >1.2 million lux hours and combined with the ultraviolet energy of >200-watt-h/m2. Sample solutions were prepared as per the concentrations and injected onto the RP-HPLC system.

Sample analysis for impurities:

Solution stability of drug product after preparation should be assessed according to the test method because most of the analyses utilizes an auto-sampler with an overnight sequence and the sample will be in solution form for h in the laboratory environment before injecting onto HPLC. So, it is of worry specifically for drugs that can undergo degradation by adhesion to glassware and hydrolysis [32]. As part of solution stability, spiked impurity solutions were analyzed initially and at different time intervals of 24, 48, and 72 h, at room (25°) and refrigerator (5°) temperature as per developed and validated method. One in-house and four individual marketed generic formulations were analyzed as per the developed and validated method of analysis.

Results and Discussion

In trial 1 and 2, MET eluted in void time and the run time was about 60 min. In trial 3, YMC-Pack ODS-A 100×4.6 mm; 3 μm column replaced with Unisol C18, MET was eluted after void time. However, ROS C not eluted within 40 min, which might be due to its high carbon loading present in Unisol column as compared to YMC-pack. Finally, in trial 4 MET was eluted after void volume by modifying the gradient program using YMC-Pack ODS-A 100×4.6 mm; 3 μm column. Table 2 shows all details of complete development trials, and developed chromatogram is shown in figure 2a.

Figure 2: Rep resentative chromatograms
a. Trial 4; b. neutral degradation; c. acidic degradation; d. alkaline degradation; e. oxidative degradation; f. thermal degradation; g. photolytic degradation

Table 2: Detailed Method Development Trials

As a part of robustness, no significant variations in resolution between the peaks of ROS A, ROS and ROS B was observed even after small and deliberate changes in the method parameters. No interference was observed with the retention period of both the molecules and its impurities from degradants, placebo, which used as excipients for making up the formulation.

Forced degradation study correspondingly confirmed the specificity of the method. As a part of peak purity study, peak threshold was found to be higher than angle and no flag for both the analytes was observed. Degradation study revealed that MET was degraded in alkaline condition only, whereas ROS degraded in acidic, alkaline, oxidative, and photolytic conditions. The results displayed in Table 3 and the individual chromatograms are given in figures 2b-g.

Table 3: Degradation Studies

Repeatability established regarding coefficient of variation and the values were found to be between 1.8 and 2.7 % (Table 4). Intermediate precision made regarding coefficient of variation and the values were found to be between 2.6 and 2.8 %. The fallouts positioned in Table 4. LOD for MET, ROS, ROS A, B, C were determined as 0.10, 0.05, 0.15, 0.20, 0.40 ppm individually. LOQ for MET, ROS, ROS A, B, C were determined as 0.30, 0.15, 0.45, 0.60, 1.0 ppm, respectively. The outcomes were shown in Table 4. The correlation coefficient values assessed the calibration curve. The method was found linear over the concentration series from 0.30 to 7.5 ppm, 0.15 to 0.6 ppm, 0.45 to 1.8 ppm, 0.6 to 3 ppm and 1.0 to 3.6 ppm for MET, ROS, ROS A, ROS B, and ROS C, respectively. The detailed parameters for the regression analysis are given in Table 4. The recovery values obtained were between 98.7 and 101.9 %. The precision of recoveries was found to be <2.5 %. The outcomes situated in Table 4. Significant changes were observed in ROS A and C impurities at room temperature (25°). The results were found to be stable for up to 3 d at refrigerator (5°), and the results are as shown in Table 5. Impurities for both in-house and individual generic marketed dosage forms of MET SR- ROS IR were found to be within the specification (Table 6). Therefore, this procedure can be applied successfully for regular examination of MET-ROS combination OSDF.

Table 4: Validation Parameters of the Proposed RP-HPLC Method

Table 5: Solution Stability Results at 25° and 5°

Table 6: The In-House and Marketed Generic Tablet Analysis (%)

Acknowledgements

Authors thank the Ashland India Pvt. Ltd. for support regarding instrumentation and chemicals.

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