Stability studies analytical methods

A reliable analytical method must be available before preformulation studies are started and hence method development activities must precede preformulation activities. The analytical method should be capable of separating the active and any major degradation product(s) and thus be stability-indicating. Analytical methods such as titration and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy are not used since they are not considered to be stability-indicating. Only HPLC has been widely used as the method of choice in recent years because of its efficiency, applicability for a wide range of chemical compounds, and ease of... 

In dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide the S atom is in a ring, and hence more constrained. The yield of SOz in the radiolysis is linear with the dose to about 13 Mrad after which it levels off as in p,p -ditolyI sulfone. However, the yield of S02 in this case is much lower (a factor of 25) than in the case of p,p -ditolyl sulfone (G = 0.002 compared to G = 0.05). This stability of the dibenzothiophene sulfone could be partially due to back reaction to reform the parent sulfone and partially due to more efficient energy delocalization. The expected biphenylene product was not detected due to limitations of the analytical method. Bowmer and O Donnell70 studied the volatile products in y-radiolysis of dialkyl, alkyl aryl and diaryl sulfones. Table 2 gives the radiolytic yields of S02 and of the hydrocarbon products of the alkyl or aryl radicals. The hydrocarbon products are those obtained either by H atom abstraction or by radical combination. The authors69 suggested the mechanism... 

In summary, official German analytical methods for pesticide residues are always validated in several laboratories. These inter-laboratory studies avoid the acceptance of methods which cannot readily be reproduced in further laboratories and they do improve the ruggedness of analytical procedures applied. The recently introduced calibration with standards in matrix improves the trueness of the reported recovery data. Other aspects of validation (sample processing, analyte stability, extraction efficiency) are not considered. 

Residue study protocols typically either include quality specifications for analytical procedures or refer to a written analytical method that includes such specifications. The protocol for an LSMBS should also include analytical quality specifications, either directly or by reference to a method. Analytical specifications usually include minimum and maximum recovery of analyte from fortified control samples, minimum number of such fortifications per set of samples, minimum linearity in calibration, minimum stability of response to injection of calibration solutions, and limits of quantitation and of detection. 

The underlying calibration procedure of a newly developed analytical method has to be examined by basic validation studies to determine the reliability of the method and its efficiency in comparison with traditional methods. In order to ensure long-term stability, it is necessary to perform revalidations, which can be combined with the use of quality control charts, over meaningful time periods. 

For non-compendial procedures, the performance parameters that should be determined in validation studies include specificity/selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision (repeatability and intermediate precision), detection limit (DL), quantitation limit (QL), range, ruggedness, and robustness [6]. Other method validation information, such as the stability of analytical sample preparations, degradation/ stress studies, legible reproductions of representative instrumental output, identification and characterization of possible impurities, should be included [7], The parameters that are required to be validated depend on the type of analyses, so therefore different test methods require different validation schemes. 

The validation process begun in Phase I is extended during Phase II. In this phase, selectivity is investigated using various batches of drugs, available impurities, excipients, and samples from stability studies. Accuracy should be determined using at least three levels of concentration, and the intermediate precision and the quantitation limit should be tested. For quality assurance evaluation of the analysis results, control charts can be used, such as the Shewart-charts, the R-charts, or the Cusum-charts. In this phase, the analytical method is refined for routine use. 

The intrinsic inertness of the peptide bond is demonstrated by a study of the chemical hydrolysis of N-benzoyl-Gly-Phe (hippurylphenylalanine, 6.37) [67], a reference substrate for carboxypeptidase A (EC 3.4.17.1). In pH 9 borate buffer at 25°, the first-order rate constant for hydrolysis of the peptide bond ( chem) was 1-3 x 10-10 s-1, corresponding to a tm value of 168 y. This is a very slow reaction indeed, confirming the intrinsic stability of the peptide bond. Because the analytical method used was based on monitoring the released phenylalanine, no information is available on the competitive hydrolysis of the amide bond to liberate benzoic acid. 

Final methods are developed for transfer to operational quality control (QC) laboratories for the release testing of production batches. Additionally, the methods are intended to be applied during Registration Stability studies and for the release of the DP or DS validation batches during the pre-approval development stage. The analytical methods should last for the entire product lifetime therefore, the aim of final method development is to generate fast, robust, reliable, and transferable HPLC methods (preferably isocratic and at low cost). 

Analytical data generated in a testing laboratory are generally used for development, release, stability, or pharmacokinetic studies. Regardless of what the data are required for, the analytical method must be able to provide reliable data. Method validation (Chapter 7) is the demonstration that an analytical procedure is suitable for its intended use. During the validation, data are collected to show that the method meets requirements for accuracy, precision, specificity, detection limit, quantitation limit, linearity, range, and robustness. These characteristics are those recommended by the ICH and will be discussed first. 

HPLC is a complex analytical methodology that involves the development of a unique method for each new application. This method development often requires the optimisation of several method conditions to achieve a desired selectivity and sensitivity [12,13]. HPLC is also one of the most commonly applied analytical techniques and is in widespread use throughout the pharmaceutical industry for applications as diverse as quality control, stability studies and clinical trials. These two reasons mean that HPLC has been the focus of most research into ruggedness testing procedures because it is most likely to require extensive ruggedness... 

The stress studies should demonstrate that impurities and degradants from the active ingredient do not interfere with the quantitation of the API [12]. Stress testing of the API, in addition to validating the stability-indicating power of the analytical method, can also help establish the degradation pathways and the intrinsic stability of the molecule [7]. 

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