- Evaluation of monolithic C18 HPLC columns for the fast analysis of pilocarpine hydrochloride in the presence of its degradation products
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Monolithic Performance C18 HPLC columns (Chromolith Performance RP-18e, Merck) were applied for the determination of pilocarpine hydrochloride in the presence of its degradation products isopilocarpine, pilocarpic acid and isopilocarpic acid. The method was validated using a set of six monolithic columns and compared to a conventional C18 column. The separation of pilocarpine from its degradation products was investigated on monolithic columns at different flow rates from 1 to 9 ml/min. Superior resolution was obtained using monolithic columns over the conventional C18 column at the same flow rate of 1 ml/min with a total run time of 9 min compared to 13.5 min for the conventional C18 column. Comparable resolution to that obtained in the C18 column (but with better peak symmetry) was obtained at a flow rate of 4 ml/min, although the total run time was reduced to 3.5 min. The precision for both retention time and peak area was investigated over a wide concentration range and found to be equal, or slightly better on Chromolith Performance compared to the conventional column. The overall RSDs% ranged from 0.5% to 1.16% for the conventional column, while for monolithic columns ranged from 0.38% to 0.87% at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and from 0.38% to 0.89% at a flow rate of 4 ml/min. Monolithic column to column reproducibility (n = 6) was measured. The RSDs% ranged from 0.34% to 0.68% for retention time and from 0.3% to 0.94% for peak areas. The detection and quantitation limits on monolithic columns at both flow rates (1 and 4 ml/min) were found to be 0.17 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml, compared to 0.31 μg/ml and 1 μg/ml on the conventional column. Monolithic silica rods have also shown the advantage of reducing the time to wash and to re-equilibrate the column. The method showed good linearity and recovery and was found to be suitable for the analysis of pilocarpine hydrochloride formulations.
- El Deeb,Schepers,Waetzig
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p. 751 - 756
(2007/10/03)
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- Pilocarpine prodrugs II. Synthesis, stability, bioconversion, and physicochemical properties of sequentially labile pilocarpine acid diesters
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Various novel diesters of pilocarpic acid were synthesized and evaluated as prodrug forms for pilocarpine with the aim of improving the ocular delivery characteristics of the drug. The pilocarpic acid monoesters previously studied cyclized spontaneously to pilocarpine in aqueous solution and although they showed enhanced corneal permeability when compared with pilocarpine these monoesters suffered from poor solution stability. The present study shows that this problem can be totally overcome by blocking the free hydroxyl group in the monoesters. Diesters of pilocarpic acid were obtained by esterification of this group. Such compounds were found to possess a high stability in aqueous solution (shelf lives of more than 5 years at 20°C were estimated) but at the same time were readily converted to pilocarpine under conditions simulating those occurring in vivo through a sequential process involving enzymatic hydrolysis of the O-acyl bond followed by spontaneous lactonization of the intermediate pilocarpic acid monoester. Rate data are given for the conversion of the diesters in human plasma and in various rabbit eye homogenates. The pH-solubility profile was derived for a diester and lipophilicity parameters were determined for the compounds. All dieters were markedly more lipophilic than pilocarpine and the corresponding pilocarpic acid monoesters. The results suggest that pilocarpic acid diesters may be potentially useful pilocarpine prodrugs as they combine a high solution stability with an adequate rate of conversion to pilocarpine under in vivo conditions.
- Bundgaard,Falch,Larsen,Mosher,Mikkelson
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p. 775 - 783
(2007/10/02)
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