METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF CEFEPIME BY USING RP-HPLC ALONG WITH ITS POTENCY

METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF CEFEPIME BY USING RP-HPLC ALONG WITH ITS POTENCY

S. Joshna Rani ^* and N. Mounika

Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati - 517502, Andhra Pradesh, India.

ABSTRACT: Cefepime is a broad - spectrum new parenteral cephalosporin used to treat moderate to severe nosocomial pneumonia, empirical treatment of febrile neutropenia and infections of the skin and urinary tract. In this present study a simple, accurate and precise reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for analysis of cefepime powder for injectable solutions along with its potency by using microbiological bioassay by four different microorganisms. A YMC C ₁₈ (4.6 × 150 mm, 5.0 mm) column was used for cefepime separation, using isocratic elution with acetonitrile: water (70:30, v/v) and UV detection at 235 nm. Microbiological assay (bioassay) was performed using the agar diffusion method. The validation performed yielded good results in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. The retention time obtained for cefepime was 1.77 min and % potency of the marketed dosage form was found to be 147.9%, 100%, 83.17% and 125.8% respectively.

Cefepime, Microbiological assay, HPLC, Validation

INTRODUCTION: Cefepime is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of cephalosporin used to treat bacteria responsible for causing pneumonia and infections of the skin and urinary tract ¹. Cefepime is chemically(S) 1- {[(6R, 7R)- 7-[(2Z)-2-(2-amino-1, 3-thiazol-4-yl)- 2- (methoxyimino) acetamido]- 2-carboxylato- 8- oxo- 5- thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-en-3-yl]methyl}-1-methylpyrrolidin-1-ium ² Fig. 1 with molecular formula C₁₉H₂₄N₆O₅S₂ ³ and a molecular weight of 480.56 g/mol ⁴. It is a white to yellow powder ⁵. Cefepime is active against both Gram-positive and Gram- negative bacteria ⁶.

Cefepime inhibits the third and final stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis by preferentially binding to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) that are located inside the bacterial cell wall. Penicillin-binding proteins are responsible for several steps in the synthesis of the cell wall. Like all β-lactam antibiotics, cefepime's ability to interfere with PBP-mediated cell wall synthesis ultimately leads to cell lysis ⁵.

FIG. 1: STRUCTURE OF CEFEPIME

Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial infections, but on prolong use of these products may lead to drug resistance or these products due to the demand in the market are been faked easily ⁷. The cefepime has a broad spectrum activity against gram positive and gram negative microorganisms it is necessary to quantify and identify the product ⁸. In this present study quantification of cefepime is done by the microbiological assay which is simple, accurate and low cost bioassay and High performance liquid chromatographic technique which is simple, sensitive, and reproducible for cefepime determination in marketed formulation. In this paper, a simple, rapid and economical HPLC method and a new microbiological assay have been developed and validated for quantitative deter-mination of cefepime in pharmaceutical powder for injectable preparations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Microbiological Assay:

Chemicals: Chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade. Milli-Q water (Millipore) was used to prepare solutions. United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) reference standard of cefepime was used for standard solution preparation. Commercial sample novapime powder for injection containing cefepime 1 gm was obtained from the local pharmacy.

Microorganisms: E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Method:

Antibacterial Activity: Nutrient agar was prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The medium Muller Milton was sterilized by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min at 15 psi pressure and was used to determine the antibacterial activity of standard and test drugs. Sterile molten cool (45 °C) agar was poured aseptically into sterile petri plates (15 ml each) and the plates were allowed to solidify at room temperature in sterile condition. After solidification 4 holes were made using sterile borer of 5 to 8 mm in diameter. The holes were marked as SH, SL, TH, TL. 0.1 ml of the standard and test sample solution was poured in their respective holes. The plates were left for 1 - 4 at room temperature as a period of pre incubation diffusion. Incubate the plates incubated for about 18 h at 35 to 37 °C.

After incubation, the diameter of zone of inhibition was measured using antibiotic zone reader or by Veriner Caliper. The potency of marketed formulation of cefepime was calculated by using following formula ⁸.

% Potency = Antilog (2.0 + a log I)

a = (U1 +U2) – (S1 + S2)

(U1 -U2) + (S1 - S2)

I = Ratio of dilutions;

U1 and U2 = Zone of diameter of highest and lowest concentration of marketed formulation;

S1 and S2 = Zone of diameter of highest and lowest concentration of standard drug.

HPLC Method:

Preparation of Mobile Phase: Mix a mixture of water 300 ml (30%) and 700 ml acetonitrile HPLC (70%) and degas in ultrasonic water bath for 5 minutes. Filter through 0.45 µ filter under vacuum filtration.

Preparation of Standard Solution: Accurately weigh and transfer 10 mg of cefepime into a 10 ml clean dry volumetric flask add diluent and sonicate to dissolve it completely and make volume up to the mark with the diluent. (Stock solution) further pipette 0.6 ml of cefepime of the above stock solution into a 10 ml volumetric flask and dilute up to the mark with diluent.

Preparation of Sample Solution: Accurately weigh and transfer equivalent to 10 mg of cefepime sample is taken into a 10 ml clean dry volumetric flask add diluents and sonicate to dissolve it completely and make volume up to the mark with the diluent. (Stock solution) further pipette 0.6 ml of cefepime of the above stock solution into a 10 ml volumetric flask and dilute up to the mark with diluent.

Instrumentation and Chromatographic Condi-tions: The HPLC system consisted of a separation module (Alliance 2690) and photodiode array (PDA) detector (2487) on a YMC C 18 column having 4.6 × 150 mm id in Isocratic mode with mobile phase containing acetonitrile HPLC and water (70:30 ) was used. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min and effluents were monitored at 235 nm. The retention times of cefepime was 1.766 min.

Method Validation:

Precision: The standard  solution  was  injected  for  six  times  and  measured  the  area  for  all  five injections in HPLC. The % RSD for the area of six replicate injections should not be more than 2.

Repeatability: Six preparations were prepared individually using single batch of drug as per test method and injected each solution.

Intermediate Precision: The standard solution was injected for six times and measured the area for all six injections in HPLC. The % RSD for the area of six replicate injections was found to be within the specified limits.

Accuracy: Inject the standard solution, accuracy -50%, accuracy -100% and accuracy -150% solutions. Calculate the amount found and amount added for cefepime and calculate the individual recovery and mean recovery values. % assay recovery should be between 98% - 102%.

Linearity: The mean peak areas were noted from the chromatograms and a plot of concentrations over the peak areas was constructed at 245 nm. The regression of the plot was computed by least square method.

Robustness: A study was conducted to determine the effect of deliberate variations in the optimized chromatographic condition of the mobile phase, flow rate, and the pH of the mobile phase. A single condition was carried at a time keeping all other parameters constant.

Limit of Detection and Limit of Quantification: In this study the analyte response is 10 times greater than the noise response. For this study six replicates of the analyte at lowest concentration in the calibration range were measured and quantified.

Degradation Studies:

Preparation of Stock: Accurately weigh and transfer 10 mg of cefepime working standard into a 10 ml clean dry volumetric flask add about 7 mL of diluent and sonicate to dissolve it completely and make volume up to the mark with the same solvent. (Stock solution).

Hydrolytic Degradation under Acidic Condition: Pipette 0.6 ml of above solution into a 10 ml volumetric flask and 3 ml of 0.1N HCl was added. Then, the volumetric flask was kept at 60 ºC for 6 h and then neutralized with 0.1 N NaOH and make up to 10 ml with diluent. Filter the solution with 0.22 microns syringe filters and place in vials.

Hydrolytic Degradation under Alkaline Condition: Pipette 0.6 ml of above solution into a 10 ml volumetric and add 3 ml of 0.1N NaOH was added in 10 ml of volumetric flask. Then, the volumetric flask was kept at 60 ºC for 6 h and then neutralized with 0.1N HCl and make up to 10 ml with diluent. Filter the solution with 0.22 microns syringe filters and place in vials.

Thermal Induced Degradation: Cefepime and melatonine sample was taken in petridish and kept in Hot air oven at 110 ºC for 24 h. Then the sample was taken and diluted with diluents and injected into HPLC and analysed.

Oxidative Degradation: Pipette 0.6 ml above stock solution into a 10 ml volumetric flask and 1 ml of 3% w/v of hydrogen peroxide added in 10 ml of volumetric flask and the volume was made up to the mark with diluent. The volumetric flask was then kept at room temperature for 15 min. Filter the solution with 0.45 microns syringe filters and place in vials.

Photo Degradation: Pipette 0.6ml above stock solution into a 10 ml volumetric flask and expose to sunlight for 24 h and the volume was made up to the mark with diluent. Filter the solution with 0.45 microns syringe filters and place in vials.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Microbiological Assay:

TABLE 1: ZONE OF DIAMETER

The potency of marketed formulation of cefepime was calculated by using following formula.

% Potency = Antilog (2.0 + a log I)

a = (U1 +U2) – (S1 + S2)

(U1 -U2) + (S1 - S2)

I = Ratio of dilutions;

U1 and U2 = Zone of diameter of highest and lowest concentration of marketed formulation;

S1 and S2 = Zone of diameter of highest and lowest concentration of standard drug.

By the above substitution the % potency was found to be:

TABLE 2: % POTENCY

TABLE 3: SYSTEM PRECISION

HPLC Method: A simple, rapid, specific, accurate and precise reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for estimation of cefepime in powder for injection dosage form. A YMC C 18 column having 4.6 × 150 mm id in Isocratic mode with mobile phase containing acetonitrile HPLC and water (70:30) was used. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min and effluents were monitored at 235 nm. The cefepime has been eluted at 1.77 min as shown in below chromatograph.

Method Validation: The % RSD for system and method precision was less than 2, it indicates the method is precise. The average recoveries of the cefepime was 100.3%, it indicates the method is accurate. The LOD and LOQ S/N value was found to be >2 and >10 respectively it indicates the method is sensitive. In stress degradation studies, it was observed the response of peak area and retention time of cefepime was stable.

TABLE 4: METHOD PRECISION

FIG. 2: CHROMATOGRAM OF CEFEPIME                    

FIG. 3: LINEARITY GRAPH OF CEFEPIME

TABLE 5: ACCURACY STUDY

Limit of Detection:

Calculation of S/N Ratio:

Average baseline noise obtained from blank: 66 µV

Signal obtained from LOD solution: 197 µV

S/N = 197/66 = 2.98

Limit of Quantification:

Calculation of S/N Ratio:

Average baseline noise obtained from blank: 66 µV

Signal obtained from LOQ solution: 660µV

S/N = 660/66 = 10.00

TABLE 6: ROBUSTNESS STUDY

TABLE 7: ROBUSTNESS STUDY

TABLE 8: LINEARITY STUDY (PREPARATION AT 20% TO 100% LEVEL)

TABLE 9: DEGRADATION STUDY

CONCLUSION: A simple, accurate, precise and sensitive  method development and validation was developed for cefepime for bulk drug and marketed formulation along with the accurate, low cost bioassay method i.e., microbiological assay method for potency determination was developed. Hence the proposed method is highly sensitive, precise and accurate and it can be successfully applied for the quantification of API content in the commercial formulations of cefepime in routine analysis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Nil

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nil

REFERENCES:

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   How to cite this article:

   Rani SJ and Mounika N: Method development and validation of cefepime by using RP-HPLC along with its potency. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2018; 9(6): 2530-34. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.9(6).2530-34.

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