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Analytical method development and validation of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole in topical dosage form using RP-HPLC

Abstract

Background

Different pharmaceutical topical agents are available in the market for the treatment of fungal infections. A simple, precise, and cost-effective RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole simultaneously in a topical cream dosage form. Chromatographic separation was done on USP L1 (250 × 4.6) mm column with a particle size of 5 μm. The mobile phase employed for this study consists of acetonitrile and buffer in the ratio of 75:25, respectively. The flow rate was kept at 1 mL per minute. The detection of the drug was carried out at 254 nm using a UV detector. The retention times of HYD and CL were 3.0 min and 7.3 min, respectively.

Result

The method is developed and validated for linearity, precision, specificity, accuracy, and robustness.

Conclusion

The stability of finished products gives us knowledge about the effect of different environmental factors like humidity, light, and temperature, and these factors give us information about the quality of finished products.

Background

Dermatophyte has a Greek origin and is known as the skin of the plant [1]. Dermatophytes are divided into three fungal groups that cause dermal diseases in humans and animals [2]. The asexual dermatophytes are divided into three types, i.e., Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton [3, 4]. These cause different types of infections like Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), Tinea cruris (jock itch), Tinea corpora (ringworm of the body), and Tinea faciei (facial ringworm). Different pharmaceutical topical agents are available in the market for the treatment of these fungal infections either alone or in a combination. The combination which is used most widely is a combination of hydrocortisone (HYD) and clotrimazole (CL). Cortisol is a hormone which is supplied with the name of hydrocortisone when is used as medication [5]. It is used for the treatment of dermatitis, adrenogenital syndrome, asthma, adrenocortical insufficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [6]. It can be used in the form of pills, creams, and injections. It can also be used as immune suppression and as an anti-inflammatory. The chemical formula of hydrocortisone is 11β,17α,21-trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, and the molecular formula is C21H30O5. It is a naturally occurring steroid [7].

Clotrimazole (CL) is used as an antifungal drug. It is used for the treatment of vaginal yeast infections, pityriasis versicolor, diaper rash, oral thrush, and types of ringworm as well as jock itch and athlete’s foot [8]. It can be given as topically or orally. CL is also used for the treatment of yeast infection (vulvovaginal candidiasis) or infection of the skin caused by yeast. For skin infections, CL is used for 2–8 days twice daily [9]. Clotrimazole inhibits the growth of Candida by modifying the penetrability of the fungal cell wall. It binds with phospholipids in the cell membrane and hinders the synthesis of ergosterol and other types of sterols which are necessary for cell membrane production [10, 11]. The chemical formula of CL is 1-[(2-chlorophenyl) diphenyl methyl]-1H-imidazole, and molecular formula is C22H17ClN2. The structural formula of both hydrocortisone and clotrimazole is given in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Structure of a hydrocortisone and b clotrimazole

Literature survey disclose that different methods are available for detection of HYD and CL separately; for HYD, these are polarographic [12, 13], HPLC [14, 15], spectrophotometric [16], TLC [17], and LC-MS/MS [18, 19] methods; and for CL, these are spectrophotometric [20], HPLC methods [21, 22], and titrimetric [23] TLC [24] methods. Only one method has been reported for the simultaneous determination of HYD and CL that is HPTLC [25]. The aim of this work was to develop and validate a new, novel, and different method for the simultaneous determination of HYD and CL in a topical cream and in a raw form. The proposed method is simple, accurate, selective, rapid, and less time-consuming as compared with the existing HPTLC method. The given method has been developed and validated according to ICH guidelines [26].

The stability of finished products gives us knowledge about the effect of different environmental factors like humidity, light, and temperature, and these factors give us information’s about the quality of finished products. The shelf life of finished products can also be decided on the basis of stability study [27,28,29]. Stability assay precisely measures the pharmaceutical active ingredients, without interfering, from the process impurities, degradation products, potential impurities, or other excipients [30].

Methods

Reagents and chemicals

HYD was received from the Tianjin Tianmao Technology Development (China). CL was received from the Srikem Laboratories Pvt. Limited (India). The purity of HYD & CL was found to be 100% and 99.3% on a dried basis. HPLC grade acetonitrile, HPLC grade water, and dibasic potassium phosphate were received from the Merck. All other reagents which are used are of analytical grade. All chemicals and reagents which are used for RP-HPLC were filtered through 0.45-μm filter paper.

Chromatographic conditions

Chromatographic separation was attained at 40 oC with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and buffer solution (dissolve 4.35 g of dibasic potassium phosphate in water to make 1000 mL of solution) in the ratio of 75:25, respectively, and is degassed by using an ultrasonic bath. Isocratic elution was achieved on the USP L1 (250 × 4.6) mm column with a particle size of 5 μm. The flow rate was kept at 1.0 mL/min, and the injection volume was 20 μL. UV detection was achieved at 254 nm.

Preparation of standard stock solution

Standard solution of 0.2 mg/mL concentration of both HYD and CL was prepared by equally weighing the quantity of both the standards and transferring them into 100 volumetric flasks. Then add 70 mL of mobile phase and mix to dissolve, make up the volume to the mark with the mobile phase, and mix and sonicate the solution to degas.

Preparation of sample solution

Mix three tubes of Aquazole creams, then accurately weigh the quantity of 2 g of the cream containing 20 mg of APIs of both HYD and CL in a 100-mL volumetric flask and add 70 mL of a mobile phase and sonicate it. Sonication was done to dissolve the APIs completely then make up the volume to the mark with the same diluent and mix. The final solution is filtered using a filter paper of 0.45-μm pore size. Then, 20 μL of the sample was injected into HPLC.

Stability study-stress study

A stress study was performed in an experimental cream sample and working standards in order to check the degradation of products. The stability-indicating nature and selectivity of the given analytical method were also checked.

The starting point of testing was to check the degradation of both HYD and CL individually under different stress conditions [31]. Temperature stress was applied to the experimental cream formulation of HYD and CL and its placebo. This test was carried out in the oven at 50 °C and in climatic chamber at 40 °C ± 2 and 75% ± 5 RH (relative humidity). These samples were placed for 3 months under 50 °C conditions and for 6 months under 40 °C ± 2 and 75% ± 5 RH conditions.

For photolytic stress, working standard solutions, experimental cream formulation, and its placebo were exposed directly to sunlight at outside temperature 28–32 °C for 10 h during the disclosure time. All samples were located outside in firmly closed quartz cells. Simultaneously, all experimental samples were placed at room temperature protected from light.

Results

Method development

A mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and buffer in the ratio of (75:25) was used with 20-μL injection volume of 0.2-mg/mL concentration separately for hydrocortisone and clotrimazole. A symmetrical peak was acquired on 3.046 min for hydrocortisone and similarly a symmetrical peak at 7.368 min was acquired for clotrimazole. Similarly, it was observed that different parameters like column type and pH also have different effects on HYD and CL. System suitability parameters were tested according to USP. A chromatogram of simultaneous detection of HYD and CL is given in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2
figure 2

HPLC chromatogram of working standards

System suitability

For the purity of working standards, we injected six standard injections, and their RSD, tailing factor, theoretical plates, and resolution were calculated and given in Table 1. System suitability parameters confirmed that the given chromatographic conditions were good for the method development and validation.

Table 1 Parameters of system suitability for hydrocortisone and clotrimazole

Method validation

Selectivity and linearity

Linearity solutions were prepared by quantitative dilutions of the stock solution of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole standard to attain solutions in the series of 50 to 150% (i.e., 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, and 150%) of the working concentration. All the prepared solutions were triply analyzed, and their response was recorded by injecting. The correlation coefficient (r) should not be less than 0.999, is considered as acceptable, and was obtained for both HYD and CL. The correlation coefficient and regression plot were presented in Table 2.

Table 2 Validation parameters for hydrocortisone and clotrimazole assay

Accuracy and precision

Accuracy was tested by spiking known quantities of HYD and CL in the placebo of cream. The accuracy samples were prepared at three-level concentrations over a range of 75%, 100%, and 125%. The obtained recovery result should be between 98 and 100% and their %age RSD should not be more than 2 (RSD ≤ 2%). The accuracy results were found to be well within the limits which are given in Table 2.

Range and robustness

The concentration interval for HYD and CL over which acceptable linearity, precision, and accuracy were obtained is given in Table 2. Robustness was performed regarding wavelength, oven temperature, and flow rate. The results which were obtained are within acceptable limits that are 98–100% and their RSD is 0.23% for HYD and 0.36% for CL.

LOD and LOQ

The LOD of an analytical method is the lowest quantity of analyte in a given sample which can be easily detected but not quantified to the given value. The LOQ of an analytical method is the lowest amount of analyte in a given sample which can be easily quantified with appropriate accuracy and precision. LOD and LOQ for both HYD and CL were calculated and are given in Table 2.

Stress testing

Initially, the physical appearance of experimental cream was off-white and homogeneous and chromatograms of initial testing were given in Fig. 3. Degradation of HYD and CL was also observed and tested after 3 and 6 months at 40 °C ± 2/75% ± 5 RH, no change in physical appearance observed, and little degradation of HYD and CL was observed (Fig. 4). The results for the assay of both HYD and CL are given in Table 3. The results of a sunlight stress are given in Table 3. The developed and validated stability indicating method was also applied for the detection of HYD and CL assay in two topical creams from the market: Clozox H and Gytrim HC labeled on HYD and CL content.

Fig. 3
figure 3

HPLC chromatogram of aquazole cream

Fig. 4
figure 4

HPLC chromatogram of topical cream stress testing at 40 °C ± 2/75% ± 5 RH (after 6 months)

Table 3 Stress study of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole assay for experimental topical cream at 40 °C temperature and sunlight

Discussion

After studying molecular structure and solubility, the method development was started according to hydrophobic interaction and polarity of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole. The process development was carried out at 1.0 mL per min flow rate, and the chromatographic temperature (column temperature) was 40 °C. In the start, a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and buffer was used with a 20-μL injection volume of a 0.2-mg/mL concentration separately for hydrocortisone and clotrimazole. The peaks which were obtained are symmetrical, so there was no necessity for method optimization of unusual chromatograms, i.e., asymmetrical peaks, overlapping. In order to reduce the peaks’ retention time and to make the method cost-effective only play with the composition of the mobile phase.

Similarly, it was observed that different parameters like column type and pH also have different effects on HYD and CL. System suitability parameters were tested according to USP.

The working standard solution of HYD and CL was injected separately into HPLC to determine their retention time, and also chromatographic purity and UV spectrum. Then, the working standard solution of a mixture of HYD and CL was injected, and their retention time, chromatographic purity, and UV spectrum were confirmed. For this purpose, we injected six standard injections, and their RSD, tailing factor, theoretical plates, and resolution were calculated. System suitability parameters confirmed that the given chromatographic conditions were good for the method development and validation.

The mixture of working standard solutions, placebo of cream, and blank was injected separately, and chromatograms are obtained; no extra peak was observed. The peaks which are obtained are of HYD and CL in the cream formulation. Linearity solutions were prepared by quantitative dilutions of the stock solution of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole. The correlation coefficient (r) should not be less than 0.999, is considered as acceptable, and was obtained for both HYD and CL.

Accuracy was tested by spiking known quantities of HYD and CL in the placebo of cream. The accuracy samples were prepared at three-level concentrations over a range of 75%, 100%, and 125%. The obtained recovery result should be between 98 and 102%, and their %age RSD should not be more than 2 (RSD ≤ 2%). There are three stages of precision: intra-assay precision(repeatability), reproducibility, and intermediate precision [32]. Repeatability of the suggested analytical method was carried out by making six samples and injecting each of them three times in HPLC of the selected cream formulation. All the results which were obtained met the requirements RSD ≤ 2% and are given in Table 2. Intermediate precision was performed on the same sample on different days by two different analyses. The value of RSD is not more than 2% for both HYD and CL.

The concentration interval for HYD and CL over which acceptable linearity, precision, and accuracy were obtained is given in Table 2. Robustness was performed regarding wavelength, oven temperature, and flow rate. The results which were obtained are within acceptable limits that are 98–102%, and their RSD is 0.18% for HYD and 0.34% for CL.

The LOD of an analytical method is the lowest quantity of analyte in a given sample which can be easily detected but not quantified to the given value. The LOQ of an analytical method is the lowest amount of analyte in a given sample which can be easily quantified with appropriate accuracy and precision.

Initially, physical appearance of experimental cream was off-white and homogeneous and chromatograms of initial testing were given in Fig. 3. The samples were tested after 3 months at 50 °C stress condition, and it was observed that the physical appearance of a sample remains almost the same and little degradation of HYD and CL was observed. The degradation of HYD and CL was also observed and tested after 3 and 6 months, no change in physical appearance observed, and little degradation of HYD and CL was observed (Fig. 4). These conditions are not as much drastic as 50 °C. The placebo sample was also tested in both conditions, and it also shows no change in physical appearance and almost the same results were obtained as at initial conditions.

Sunlight stress on experimental topical cream shows that little degradation of HYD and CL was observed, and a physical appearance of cream also remains nearly unchanged. The developed and validated stability indicating method was also applied for the detection of HYD and CL assay in three topical creams from the market: Clozox H and Gytrim labeled on HYD and CL content. These creams are the same in composition but are different with respect to excipient composition, and their texture and physical appearance also vary a bit.

Conclusion

Stability-indicating method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of HYD and CL in topical creams by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) by a UV detector. The given method is appropriate for HYD and CL assay because the validation of the method confirmed that the method is linear, selective, reproducible, and accurate.

Stability-indicating experiments were done on topical cream preparation under different conditions like temperature, humidity, and sunlight. Good resolution of HYD and CL was attained. Stability study is done in order to give a shelf life of the topical cream as to endorse the usage and storage conditions.

Availability of data and materials

All data and materials are available upon request.

Abbreviations

API:

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient

CL:

Clotrimazole

HPTLC:

High-performance thin layer chromatography

HYD:

Hydrocortisone

ICH:

International Council for Harmonization

LC-MS/MS:

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry

LOD:

Limit of detection

LOQ:

Limit of quantification

RH:

Relative humidity

RP-HPLC:

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

RSD:

Relative standard deviation

TLC:

Thin layer chromatography

USP:

United States Pharmacopeia

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to all those who have supported us during this project.

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DNI developed the idea of research and supervised the project and helped in the interpretation of data. AA has performed all the experiments and was responsible for data acquisition. AN contributed to the interpretation of data and wrote the first draft. MI has proofread the draft and helped with language and grammatical edits. The authors have read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Arif Nazir.

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Iqbal, D.N., Ashraf, A., Iqbal, M. et al. Analytical method development and validation of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole in topical dosage form using RP-HPLC. Futur J Pharm Sci 6, 49 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-020-00065-7

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