Forced degradation of fingolimod: effect of co-solvent and characterization of degradation products by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and 1H NMR.

Fingolimod (FGL), an immunomodulator drug for treating multiple sclerosis, was subjected to hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline and neutral), oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress, as per International Conference on Harmonization specified conditions. The drug showed extensive degradation under base hydrolysis, however, it was stable under all other conditions. A total of three degradation products (DPs) were observed. The chromatographic separation of the drug and its degradation products was achieved on a Fortis C18 (100×2.1mm, 1.7μm) column with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid (Solvent A) and acetonitrile (Solvent B) in gradient mode. All the DPs were identified and characterized by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) in combination with accurate mass measurements. The major DP was isolated and characterized by Nuclear Magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This is a typical case of degradation where acetonitrile used as co-solvent in stress studies, reacts with FGL in base hydrolytic conditions to produce acetylated DPs. Hence, it can be suggested that acetonitrile is not preferable as a co-solvent for stress degradation of FGL. The developed UHPLC method was validated as per ICH guidelines.

Patel PN ，Kalariya PD ，Gananadhamu S ，Srinivas R ... -  《-》

Forced degradation study of racecadotril: Effect of co-solvent, characterization of degradation products by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, NMR and cytotoxicity assay.

Racecadotril, an enkephalinase inhibitor, was subjected to hydrolysis (acidic and alkaline), oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress, as per ICH specified conditions. The drug showed extensive degradation under acidic, basic hydrolysis and oxidative stress conditions whereas, it was stable under other stress conditions. A total of seven degradation products (DPs) were observed. The chromatographic separation was optimized on Acquity HSS Cyano (100×2.1mm, 1.8μ) column using 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase in gradient mode. Six DPs were characterised by LC-MS/MS and DP1 by GC-MS. The major DPs (DP 2 and DP 5) were isolated and characterised by NMR. This is a typical case of degradation where co solvent methanol reacts with racecadotril leading to the formation of pseudo DPs, DP 6 and DP 5. Interestingly the MS/MS spectra of protonated drug, DP 4 and DP 7 showed product ions which were formed due to intramolecular benzyl migrations. In vitro cytotoxic activity studies on isolated DP 2 and DP 5 revealed that the former has no cytotoxic nature, whereas the latter has potential pulmonary and hepatic toxicity.

Chiguru V ，Lingesh A ，R S ，N S ... -  《-》

Identification and characterization of stressed degradation products of prulifloxacin using LC-ESI-MS/Q-TOF, MSn experiments: development of a validated specific stability-indicating LC-MS method.

A rapid, specific and novel gradient LC-MS method has been developed and validated for the identification and characterization of stressed degradation products (DPs) of prulifloxacin (PF) using liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF-ESI-MS/MS). PF was subjected to hydrolytic (acidic, alkaline and neutral), oxidation, photolytic and thermal stress, as per ICH guidelines Q1A (R2). The drug showed extensive degradation in hydrolytic and oxidative, while it was stable to thermal and photolytic stress conditions. In total, 13 DPs were formed and the chromatographic separation of drug and its DPs was achieved on a C-18 column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm) using gradient elution method. All the DPs have been identified and characterized using MS(n) experiments and accurate mass measurements. The LC-MS method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness.

Raju B ，Ramesh M ，Srinivas R ，Raju SS ，Venkateswarlu Y ... -  《-》

Identification and characterization of forced degradation products of sertraline hydrochloride using UPLC, ultra-high-performance liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS/MS) and NMR.

The present study focused on the forced degradation behavior of sertraline hydrochloride (SRT), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The drug was exposed to different stressed conditions (hydrolytic, oxidative, thermal and photolytic) according to ICH Q1A (R2) guidelines. The study revealed that SRT was stable in hydrolytic (acidic, basic and neutral) and thermal degradation conditions. In contrast, five degradation products (DPs) were formed under oxidative and photolytic degradation conditions. The chromatographic separation of drug substance and its DPs was achieved on an Acquity HSS T3 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μ) using 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase in gradient mode using a UHPLC-DAD system. The DPs were identified and characterized by high-resolution LC/MS and LC/MS/MS in ESI positive mode. Two DPs (DP-I and DP-II) were formed when SRT was exposed to oxidative degradation conditions. Three DPs formed (DP III-V) when exposed to photolytic degradation conditions. All the five major DPs were isolated using Preparative HPLC. The structures of major DPs formed were further confirmed using NMR technique (1D and 2D). The proposed mechanism for the formation of the SRT DPs via the photolytic/oxidative stress degradation pathway are discussed and outlined.

Grover P ，Bhardwaj M ，Mukherjee D 《-》

Identification and characterization of stressed degradation products of metoprolol using LC/Q-TOF-ESI-MS/MS and MS(n) experiments.

A rapid, specific and reliable isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF-ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the identification and characterization of stressed degradation products of metoprolol. Metoprolol, an anti-hypertensive drug, was subjected to hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline and neutral), oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress, as per ICH-specified conditions. The drug showed extensive degradation under oxidative and hydrolysis (acid and base) stress conditions. However, it was stable to thermal, neutral and photolysis stress conditions. A total of 14 degradation products were observed and the chromatographic separation of the drug and its degradation products was achieved on a C(18) column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 µm). To characterize degradation products, initially the mass spectral fragmentation pathway of the drug was established with the help of MS/MS, MS(n) and accurate mass measurements. Similarly, fragmentation pattern and accurate masses of the degradation products were established by subjecting them to LC-MS/QTOF analysis. Structure elucidation of degradation products was achieved by comparing their fragmentation pattern with that of the drug. The degradation products DP(2) (m/z 153) and DP(14) (m/z 236) were matched with impurity B, listed in European Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia, and impurity I, respectively. The LC-MS method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy and precision.

Borkar RM ，Raju B ，Srinivas R ，Patel P ，Shetty SK ... -  《-》