Applications of TLC in Pharmaceutical Analysis

APPLICATIONS OF TLC IN PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS

The technique of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) has been used extensively in the domain of pharma-ceutical analysis for a variety of specific and useful applications, for example :

(i) To identify the presence of undesirable specific organic compounds present as impurities in a number of pharmaceutical substances, namely : morphine in apomorphine hydrochloride ; hydrazine in carbidopa ; 3-aminopropanol in dexampanthenol ; etc.,

(ii) Related substances present in official drugs, namely : related substances present in a wide number of potent pharmaceutical substances e.g., aminophylline ; baclofen ; chloramphenicol ; carbamazepine etc.,

(iii) Foreign alkaloids present in alkaloidal drugs, for instance : atropine sulphate ; codeine ;

(iv) Foreign steroids present in steroidal drugs, for example : betamethasone valerate ;

(v) Ninhydrin positive substances in official amino acids e.g., glutamic acid ; leucine ;

The various applications of TLC as cited above would be discussed in the sections that follow :

1. PRESENCE OF SPECIFIC SUBSTANCES AS IMPURITIES IN DRUG SUBSTANCES

Examples : (1) Morphine in Apomorphine Hydrochloride

Materials Required : Silica gel-G ; Mixture of Acetonitrile : Dichloromethane : Ethyl acetate ; Anhydrous formic acid : Water (30 : 30 : 30 : 5 : 5) ; solution (1) : 0.20% w/v of apomorphine in methanol ; solution (2) : 0.004% w/v of apomorphine HCl in methanol ; (3) Morphine : 2% w/v in methanol ; sodium nitrite solution (3% w/v in DW) ;

Procedure : Prepare the chromatogrphic tank by lining the walls with sheets of filter paper ; pour the mobile-phase into the tank, saturating the filter paper in the process, to a depth of 5 to 10 mm, close the tank and allow it to stand at 20° to 25 °C for 1 hour for equilibration of the mobile-phase in the chromatank. Apply separately to the TLC plate 5 μ l of each of two solutions (1) and (2) of apomorphine hydrochloride and (3) of morphine in the form of circular spots about 2 to 6 mm in diameter, and 15 to 20 mm from one end of the plate and not nearer than 10 mm to the sides ; the two spots must be at least 10 mm apart. Mark the sides of the plate 15 cm from the line of application. Allow the solvent to evaporate and place in the chromatank, ensuring that it is nearly vertical as possible and that the spots are above the level of the mobile-phase. Close the tank and allow to stand at 20° to 25°, unless the mobile-phase has ascended to the marked lines. Remove the plate and dry it in a current of cold air until all traces of solvent has disappeared and spray with a solution of sodium nitrite. Expose the plate to ammonia vapour for a few minutes and allow to stand in daylight for about 1 hour.

Observations : In the chromatogram obtained with solution (1), there is no reddish orange spot with an Rf value of 0.3 to .5 relative to the principal spot (about 2% of morphine). The test in not valid unless there is a clearly visible spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2).

1.1. Cognate Assays

A number of other typical examples of pharmaceutical substances containing specific organic com-pounds, that may be identified by adopting the similar TLC technique are stated in Table 28.3 :

2. RELATED SUBSTANCES PRESENT IN OFFICIAL DRUGS

(1) Aminophylline : Presence of Related Substances

Materials Required : Silica gel-G F254 ; Mobile-phase (butan-1-ol : acetone : chloroform : 13.5 ammonia : : 40 : 30 : 30 : 10) : 100 ml ; Solution-1 : dissolve 0.2 g of sample in 2 ml of DW, warm and dilute to 10 ml with methanol ; Solution (2) : dilute 1 vol. of soln. 1 to 200 vols. with methanol ;

Procedure : Apply separately to the coated plate of silica get GF254 10 μ l each of solution (1) and (2). Follow the procedure as detailed previously, using the above mobile phase. After removal of the plate, allow it to dry in air and examine under UV-light (254 nm).

Observations : Any secondary spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (1) is not more intense than the spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2).

2.1. Cognate Assays

A good number of pharmaceutical substances do contain ‘related substances’ which can be identified by TLC methods as summarized in Table 28.4 below :

3. FOREIGN ALKALOIDS PRESENT IN ALKALOIDAL DRUGS

Examples :

(1) Atropine Sulphate : Foreign Alkaloids and Development Products :

Materials Required : Silica gel G ; mobile-phase (acetone : water : 13, 5 M ammonia : : 90 : 7 : 3) : 100 ml ; solution (1, 2% w/v of sample in methanol ; solution (2) : 0.02% w/v of sample in methanol ; solution (3 : 0.01%  w/v  of  sample  in  methanol ; dilute potassium iodobismuthate solution (dissolve 100 g of (+) –

tartaric acid in 500 ml of water and add 50 ml of potassium iodobismuthate solution RI*) : 100 ml ;

Procedure : Apply separately to the coated TLC plate 1 μ l of each of three solutions (1), (2) and (3). Develop the plate in the above mobile-phase such that the solvent front is allowed to ascend only 10 cm above the line of application. After removal of the plate, dry it at 100 °C to 105 °C for 15 minutes, allow to cool and spray with dilute potassium iodobismuthate solution until spots appear.

Observations : Any secondary spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (1) is not more intense than the spot obtained with solution (2), and not more than one such spot is more intense than the spot obtained with solution (3).

3.1. Cognate Assay

The presence of ‘foreign alkaloids’ in Codeine (BP)** may be determined by more or less an identical method as already discussed earlier.

4. FOREIGN STEROIDS PRESENT IN STEROIDAL DRUGS

Example :

(1) Betamethasone Valerate : Related Foreign Steroids :

Materials Required : Silica gel G ; mobile-phase : (1, 2-dichloroethane : methanol : water : : 95 : 5 : 0.2) : 100 ml ; mixture of chloroform and methanol (9 : 1) : 50 ml ; solution (1) : betamethasone valerate sample : 1. 5% w/v ; solution (2) : betamethasone valerate BPCRS/EPCRS*** : 1.5% w/v ; solution (3) : a solution containing 0.030% w/v each of betamethasone EPCRS and betamethasone 21-valerate BPCRS ; alka-line tetrazolium blue solution**** q.s. ;

Procedure : Apply separately to the coated TLC plate 1 μ l of each of three solutions (1), (2) and (3) prepared in a mixture of chloroform/methanol stated above. After removal of the plate, allow it to cool dry in air until the solvents have evaporated, heat at 105 °C for 10 minutes, cool and spray with alkaline tetrazolium blue solution.

Observations : (1) The principal spot in the chromatogram obtained with soln. (1) corresponds in position, colour and intensity to that obtained with soln. (2),

Any secondary spot in the chromatogram obtained with soln. (1) is not more intense than the proximate spot in the chromatogram, with soln. (3).

5. NINHYDRIN POSITIVE SUBSTANCES PRESENT IN OFFICIAL AMINO ACIDS

Example :

1. Glutamic Acid

Materials Required : Silica gel-G ; mobile-phase (glacial acetic acid : water : butan-1-ol : : 20 : 20 ; 20 ; 60) : 100 ml ; solution (1) : dissolve 0.1 g of sample in 5 ml of 2 M ammonia* ; solution (2) : dilute 1 ml of soln. (1) to 50 ml with water ; solution (3) : dilute 5 ml of solution (2) to 20 ml with water ; Solution (4) : dissolve 10 mg of glutamic acid EPCRS in sufficient water to produce 50 ml ; solution (5) dissolve 10 mg of glutamic acid EPCRS and 10 mg of aspartic acid EPCRS in sufficient water to produce 25 ml ; ninhydrin solution (0.2% w/v solution of ninhydrin in a mixture of 95 vols. of butan-1-ol and 5 vols of 2 M acetic acid**) : 50 ml ;

Procedure : Apply separately to the silica gel G coated plates 5 μ l of each of sols (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) and dry the TLC plates in a current of air for 15 minutes before commencing development. Carry out the development using the above mentioned mobile-phase as usual. After removal of the plate, allow it to dry in air, spray with ninhydrin solution and heat at 100° to 105 °C for 15 minutes.

Observations

·              Any secondary spot in the chromatogram obtained with soln. (1) is less intense than the spot obtained with soln. (3).

·              The test is not valid unless the chromatogram obtained with soln. (5) show two distinctly sepa-rated spots.

5.1. Congnate Assays

The assay of leucine-an amino acid official in BP (1993) may also be carried out by adopting a similar procedure using the same adsorbent and mobile-phase but different solution from (1) to (5).