E. Haghedooren

Classification of reversed-phase columns based on their selectivity towards vancomycin compounds.

The selection of a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) column with suitable selectivity for a particular separation is difficult if the brand name of the column is not known. The monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia and other official compendia for drug analysis only give a general description of the stationary phase to be used in the operating procedure of a liquid chromatographic method. A project to develop a chromatographic test procedure to characterise RP-LC C(18) columns was started earlier and resulted in a fast, simple, repeatable and reproducible test procedure. Four column parameters, determined on 69 RP-LC C(18) columns, allowed the characterisation and ranking of these columns. In this paper, an overview of this column classification system is given with an application on the separation of vancomycin and some of its impurities. It is shown that the column ranking system is a helpful tool in the selection of a suitable column.

Evaluation of two approaches to characterise liquid chromatographic columns using pharmaceutical separations.

In this paper a comparison of two column characterisation systems is reported: the method based on the hydrophobic-subtraction model of Dolan and Snyder (HS method) versus the method developed at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL method). Comparison was done for seven different pharmaceutical separations (fluoxetine, gemcitabine, erythromycin, tetracycline, tetracaine, amlodipine and bisacodyl), using a set of 59 columns. A ranking was built based on an F value (KUL) or F(s) value (HS) versus a (virtual) reference column. Both methods showed similar probabilities of ranking patterns. Correlation of the respective test parameters of both approaches was poor. Both methods are not perfect and do not match well, but anyhow yield results which allow, with a relatively high certainty, the selection of similar or dissimilar columns as compared to a reference column. An analyst that uses either of the two methods will end up with a similar probability to choose an adequate column. From a practical point of view, it must be noted that the KUL method is easier to use.

Analysis of erythromycin and benzoylperoxide in topical gels by liquid chromatography

Gels containing a combination of erythromycin and benzoylperoxide are frequently used in the treatment of acne vulgaris. A method was developed to determine the content of both erythromycin and benzoylperoxide in these gels. Erythromycin was extracted from the gel in conditions where the oxidative power of benzoylperoxide was neutralised by addition of ascorbic acid and this extract was analysed on an Xterra RP(18) column, with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile-0.2 M K2HPO4-water (35:5:60, v/v/v). The detection wavelength was 215 nm. A second extraction procedure was developed for the analysis of benzoylperoxide. The extraction solution was analysed on a Hypersil C(18) BDS column and a mobile phase containing acetonitrile-water (58:42, v/v). Detection was performed at 254 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min in both methods. The selectivity, repeatability, linearity and recovery of both methods were examined. Special attention was given to determination of the recovery and the uncertainty on the recovery. This allowed evaluation of the bias of the extraction method. The method developed was used to examine the stability of a gel for topical use.

Comparison of two column characterisation systems based on pharmaceutical applications

A useful column characterisation system should help chromatographers to select the most appropriate column to use, e.g. when a particular chromatographic column is not available or when facing the dilemma of selecting a suitable column for analysis according to an official monograph. Official monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia and the United States Pharmacopeia are not allowed to mention the brand name of the stationary phase used for the method development. Also given the overwhelming offer of several hundreds of commercially available reversed-phase liquid chromatographic columns, the choice of a suitable column could be difficult sometimes. To support rational column selection, a column characterisation study was started in our laboratory in 2000. In the same period, Euerby et al. also developed a column characterisation system, which is now released as Column Selector by ACD/Labs. The aim of this project was to compare the two existing column characterisation systems, i.e. the KUL system and the Euerby system. Other research groups active in this field will not be discussed here. Euerby et al. developed a column characterisation system based on 6 test parameters, while the KUL system is based on 4 chromatographic parameters. Comparison was done using a set of 63 columns. For 7 different pharmaceutical separations (fluoxetine, gemcitabine, erythromycin, tetracycline, tetracaine, amlodipine and bisacodyl), a ranking was built based on an F-value (KUL method) or Column Difference Factor value (Euerby method) versus a (virtual) reference column. Both methods showed a similar ranking. The KUL and Euerby methods do not perfectly match, but they yield very similar results, allowing with a relatively high certainty, the selection of similar or dissimilar columns as compared to a reference column. An analyst that uses either of the two methods, will end up with a similar ranking. From a practical point of view, it must be noted that the KUL method only includes 4 parameters and 3 chromatographic methods compared to 6 parameters and 4 methods for the Euerby method. Hence, the time needed to determine the chromatographic properties of a column is shorter for the KUL approach. Access to the KUL method also requires no download procedures.

Evaluation of an International Pharmacopoeia method for the analysis of ritonavir by liquid chromatography

A gradient LC method for the determination of related substances in ritonavir (RTV) has been recently published in the International Pharmacopoeia. The method uses a base-deactivated reversed-phase C18 column kept at a temperature of 35 degrees C. The mobile phases consist of acetonitrile, phosphate buffer pH 4.0 and water. UV detection is performed at 240 nm. A system suitability test (SST) is described to govern the quality of the separation. Since no brand names of columns are mentioned in pharmacopoeial texts, analysts often have problems to select a suitable stationary phase which is only described in general terms. So, the separation towards RTV components was investigated on 18 C18 columns and correlation was made with the column classification system developed in our laboratory. The method was further evaluated using a Hypersil BDS C18 column (25 cm x 4.6mm i.d.), 5 microm, which was also used for the development of the method. A central composite design was applied to examine the robustness of the method. The method shows good precision, linearity, sensitivity and robustness. Four commercial samples were examined using this method.

Effect of long-term storage and use on the properties of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic columns

In order to study column deterioration as a result of long-term storage and/or usage in liquid chromatography analyses, 55 pairs (same batch) of different commercial reversed-phase C(18) columns were examined using an already existing column characterisation system. After initial testing, one column was stored and the other was used to analyse different pharmaceuticals. All columns were characterized by four chromatographic parameters reflecting hydrophobicity, silanol activity, metal impurity and steric selectivity at the beginning and at the end of the test. An F-value was calculated to express the change of column properties with one single number. After performing analyses, higher F-values were obtained as compared to the non-used, stored columns. Although the time during which the columns were used to perform analyses was relatively short, an obvious influence was noticed, mainly resulting from small changes in silanol activity and hydrophobicity. Most of the affected columns have no endcapping and/or no base deactivation, making them more vulnerable for degradation, resulting in higher silanol activity and faster ageing. This effect is observed less with columns equipped with polar-embedded groups and/or polar endcapping, protecting the column by blocking the silanol groups and attracting a shielding water layer. Also columns with higher coverages and bulky or long chains show more resistance towards degradation.

Combined use of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance for the identification of degradation compounds in an erythromycin formulation

A commercial erythromycin formulation containing erythromycin A (EA) as the major compound showed the presence of an unknown degradation compound that was co-eluted with erythromycin E (EE) in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) liquid chromatographic (LC) method. The amount of the degradation compound increased with respect to time. To separate this unknown (UNK1), investigation was performed with different LC methods coupled to ultraviolet detection (LC-UV). With the present Ph. Eur. method, the degradation compound could not be well separated. However, with the most selective LC-UV method (XTerra method), two more degradation products (UNK2 and UNK3) were found in the formulation which could not be observed using other methods because of their poor separation. By combining the results obtained with LC-UV, LC/MS and LC/NMR, the degradation products were identified as pseudoerythromycin A hemiketal (PsEAHK), erythromycin A enol ether carboxylic acid and erythromycin C enol ether carboxylic acid. PsEAHK is known to be a base-catalysed degradation product of EA, whereas the other two degradation products were newly identified.

Silica-based monolithic columns versus conventional particle-packed columns for liquid chromatographic analysis of tetracycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline

The rise of monolithic stationary phases offers to routine and research laboratories several advantages. In spite of their recent discovery, they have rapidly become highly popular separation media for liquid chromatography. Time reduction and economic reasons like e.g. a diminished use of mobile phase are the most important ones. At the same time, it was reported that these columns offer a faster and better separation. The aim of this article was to investigate the transferability of methods originally developed on conventional particle-packed C(18) columns (XTerra RP18 and Zorbax RX), onto the more recent monolithic columns. Both types, conventional particle-packed and monolithic columns, were able to separate tetracycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline from their respective impurities with sufficient resolution, but showed remarkably shorter analysis times and lower backpressures, improving the lifetime of the column.

Selecting a Suitable LC Column for Pharmaceutical Separations using a Column Characterisation System

Abstract Selecting a reversed phase liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) column with suitable selectivity for a particular separation is difficult if the brand name of the column is not known. Monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia and other official compendia for drug analysis only give a general description of the stationary phase to be used for a liquid chromatographic method. A project to develop a chromatographic test procedure to characterise RP-LC C18 columns was started earlier and resulted in a fast, simple, repeatable, and reproducible test procedure. Four column parameters allowed the characterisation and ranking of these columns. In this paper, the separations of three drug substances (amlodipine, tetracaine, and bisacodyl) from their respective impurities were examined applied on 77 RP-LC columns. It was observed, that the column ranking system was helpful in the selection of a suitable column for the separation of amlodipineand tetracaine, but also showed its limitations towards the separation of bisacodyl.

Finding an Alternative Column for the Separation of Antibiotics on XTerra RP using a Column Classification System

Abstract A project to develop a test procedure to characterize reversed‐phase liquid chromatographic C18 columns was started earlier and resulted in a fast, simple, repeatable, and reproducible test procedure. In this paper, the separations of two antibiotics (erythromycin and tetracycline) from their respective impurities were examined. Both methods were developed on XTerra RP, a hybrid column. The performance of the column classification system was evaluated by finding an alternative column for the XTerra RP column. The column classification system was helpful in the selection of a suitable column for the separation of erythromycin, but also showed its limitations towards the separation of tetracycline. The addition of an efficiency parameter and/or omission of one of the original parameters did not improve the results.