Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Tipiracil and Trifluridine

 

Rangisetty Spandana Yasaswini, Mukthinuthalapati Mathrusri Annapurna*, Sistla Mounica Pratyusha

Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, GITAM Institute of Pharmacy,

GITAM (Deemed to be) University, Visakhapatnam-530045, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: mannapurna.mukthinuthalapati@gitam.edu

 

ABSTRACT:

Tipiracil and Trifluridine are anticancer drugs used for third or fourth-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Trifluridine is an active antiviral drug used as ophthalmic solutions for the treatment of primary keratoconjunctivitis and recurrent epithelial keratitis due to herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2. It’s antiviral action is produced by incorporating in to viral DNA during replication, that results in defective proteins formation and increased mutation rate. Tipiracil is approved for the treatment of unresectable advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer in the form of combination drug trifluridine and tipiracil. Tipiracil is a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor that inhibits degradation of trifluridine, thus increasing systemic exposure to trifluridine. In the present study three new spectrophotometric methods such as Dual wavelength method (Method A), Graphical absorbance ratio method (Method B) and First derivative method (Method C) were proposed for the simultaneous determination of Tipiracil and Trifluridine and phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). Linearity was observed over the concentration range1-80 µg/ml in all the three methods for borate buffer pH 9.0; phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and both the methods were validated as per ICH guidelines. These methods can be successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of Tipiracil and Trifluridine in tablets.

 

KEYWORDS: Spectrophotometric Determination, Tipiracil, Trifluridine

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

Trifluridine is an active anti-viral agent (Figure 1A) which is used ophthalmic solutions for the treatment of primary keratoconjunctivitis1 and recurrent epithelial keratitis due to herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 and Tipiracil (Figure 1B) is used as an anti-cancer drug when given in combination with Trifluridine. Tipiracil is a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor2-4 that inhibits degradation of Trifluridine, thus increasing systemic exposure to Trifluridine. Few methods of HPLC were developed for simultaneous determination of Trifluridine and Tipiracil5-11. At present the authors have proposed three different spectrophotometric methods for the simultaneous determination of Trifluridine and Tipiracil and the methods were validated12.

 

Figure 1A: Chemical structure of Trifluridine

 

Figure 1B: Chemical structure of Tipiracil

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Model No. UV-1800 double beam UV-VIS spectrophotometer (Shimadzu) with quartz cells was used for the entire study and all the sample solutions were scanned 200-400 nm. Stock solutions of Trifluridine and Tipiracil were separately prepared in methanol. Using phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and borate buffer pH 9.0 a series of dilutions were made for the present study.

 

Method validation

From the stock solution a series of Trifluridine and Tipiracil were prepared and scanned against their reagent blank i.e. phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and borate buffer pH 9.0. At the selected wavelength the absorbance was taken and their absorptivity values were calculated for Method A and Method B and the individual concentrations of both drugs were determined, by substituting these absorptivity values in the equations. In Method C the concentration of each drug was calculated at the zero crossing point (ZCP) of the other drug (minima observed) from the first derivative spectra and vice versa. A calibration curve was drawn by taking the concentration of the drug solution on the x- axis and the corresponding absorbance values were taken on the y-axis for Method A and Method B and for Method C the derivative absorbance was taken.

 

The intra-day (same day) and inter-day (three different day) precision studies were performed at three different concentration levels and the %RSD was calculated. Accuracy studies were carried out by spiking the formulation solution with the pure drug (50%, 100%, and 150%) and the % recovery was calculated for all the three methods A, B and C.

 

Assay of formulations (Tablets)

Twenty tablets of two brands containing both Trifluridine and Tipiracil were manufactured in the local lab (20 mg Trifluridine + 8.9 mg Tipiracil) & (15 mg Trifluridine + 6.14 mg Tipiracil) and extracted with methanol. The stock solution of two brands were filtered and diluted with phosphate buffer pH 7.0, borate buffer pH 9.0 solution as per the requirement for Method A, B and C.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Three new spectrophotometric methods - Dual wavelength method (Simultaneous equation method (Method A), Graphical absorbance ratio method (Q – Analysis) (Method B) and First derivative (Method C) spectrophotometric methods were proposed for the estimation of Trifluridine and Tipiracil combined dosage forms (Tablets) in phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and borate buffer pH 9.0. The literature review was given in Table 1.

Table 1: Literature review

Method

Mobile phase (v/v) / Reagent

λmax

(nm)

Linearity

(µg/mL)

Ref.

HPLC

Methanol:

Water (65:35)

220

75–375 (TRF) & 15–75 (TPL)

5

 

HPLC

 

15% NaClO4 buffer (pH 4.5 v/v), 85% Methanol.

260

0.5-4.0 (TRF) & 0.2 -1.6 (TPL)

6

 

HPLC

Acetonitrile: Water: Methanol (60:20:20)

230

66.6-330 (TRF) & 10-50 (TPL)

7

 

HPLC

Methanol and Water (55:45)

292

3-9 (TRF) & 6-22 (TPL)

8

 

HPLC

potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer and acetonitrile (30:70) (pH 2.5)

240

20mg (TRF) & 9mg (TPL)

9

 

HPLC

phosphate buffer and methanol(30:70) (pH 3.0)

240

25-125 (TRF) & 15-75 (TPL)

10

 

HPLC

orthophosphoric acid: acetonitrile (50:50)

292

1.02-15.30 (TRF) & 0.41-6.15 (TPL)

11

 

Spectroph

otometry

Phosphate buffer pH 7.0 &

Borate buffer pH 9.0.

261.24

301.87

1-80 (TRF & TPL)

Present method

 

Method validation

Dual wavelength method (Method A)

In Method A (Dual wavelength method) the absorption maxima of both Trifluridine and Tipiracil were selected. Trifluridine has shown absorption maxima (λmax) at 261.24 nm and that of Tipiracil at 301.87 nm. From the absorbance recorded, the absorptivity values were calculated (Table 2) at selected wavelength of their individual spectra and substituted in the simultaneous equations for both the drugs. The linear regression equations for borate buffer pH 9.0 are found to be y=0.0259x-0.0022 (0.9999), y=0.0004x+5E-05 (0.9999), y=0.0034x+0.0001 (0.9998), y=0.0375x+0.0033 (0.9997) for Trifluridine at 261.24 nm, 301.87 nm and Tipiracil at 261.24nm, 301.87 nm respectively. The linear regression equations for phosphate buffer pH 9.0 are found to be y = 0.0327x - 0.0044 (0.9999), y = 0.0026x - 0.0002 (0.9999), y = 0.0081x + 0.0012 (0.9999), y=0.0373x+0.0038 (0.9999) for Trifluridine at 261.24 nm, 301.87 nm; Tipiracil at 261.24 nm and 301.87 nm respectively. The overlay spectrum of Trifluridine and Tipiracil were shown in Figure 2.

 

A1 and A2 represent the absorbance of the formulation solution at 261.24 nm and 301.87 nm respectively; CTRF and CTPL are the concentrations of Trifluridine and Tipiracil (g/100 ml) and the details of the equations were given in Table 3.

 


Table 2: Linearity of Trifluridine and Tipiracil (Method A)

Borate buffer

Trifluridine

Tipiracil

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at 261.24nm

€ 261.24

nm

Absorbance at 301.87 nm

301.87 nm

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at 261.24 nm

€ 261.24 nm

Absorbance at 301.87 nm

€ 301.87 nm

10

0.259

259.01

0.0036

3.6

10

0.0349

34.9

0.379

379.83

20

0.519

259.05

0.0072

3.6

20

0.069

34.5

0.749

374.5

30

0.772

257.33

0.011

3.66

30

0.103

34.33

1.131

377

40

1.035

258.75

0.0145

3.625

40

0.138

34.5

1.512

378

50

1.291

258.2

0.018

3.6

50

0.170

34

1.861

372.25

60

1.541

256.8

0.022

3.667

60

0.209

34.83

2.279

379.8

70

1.811

258.7

0.0253

3.614

70

0.239

34.14

2.65

378.5

80

2.061

257.62

0.029

3.625

80

0.276

34.15

2.978

372.2

Phosphate buffer pH 7.0

Trifluridine

Tipiracil

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at 261.72 nm

261.72 nm

Absorbance at

301.62 nm

€ 301.62 nm

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at 261.72 nm

261.72 nm

Absorbance at 301.62 nm

301.62 nm

10

0.321

321.06

0.026

26.81

10

0.081

81.21

0.374

374.12

20

0.645

322.84

0.053

26.74

20

0.163

81.52

0.758

379.06

30

0.975

325.31

0.079

26.53

30

0.245

81.94

1.132

377.65

40

1.296

324

0.105

26.42

40

0.327

81.75

1.494

373.52

50

1.648

329.6

0.132

26.45

50

0.407

81.41

1.851

370.21

60

1.959

326.5

0.157

26.33

60

0.489

81.66

2.268

378.01

70

2.264

323.42

0.184

26.28

70

2.613

373.28

2.613

373.28

80

2.621

327.62

0.212

26.50

80

2.987

373.37

2.987

373.37

 

Table 3: Details of the Equations

Borate buffer pH 9.0

Phosphate buffer pH 7.0

A1= Absorbance of the sample at iso-absorptive point 279.12 nm

A1= Absorbance of the sample at iso-absorptive point 259.03 nm

A2 = Absorbance of the sample at wavelength 261.72 nm.

A2 = Absorbance of the sample at wavelength 261.72 nm.

ax1 = Mean absorptivity of Trifluridine at 279.12 nm

ax1 = Mean absorptivity of Trifluridine at 259.03 nm.

ay1 = Mean absorptivity of Tipiracil at 261.72 nm

ay1 = Mean absorptivity of Tipiracil at 261.72 nm

Qm = Absorbance of formulation solution at 279.12 nm / Absorbance of formulation solution at 261.72 nm

Qm = Absorbance of formulation solution at 259.03 nm / Absorbance of formulation solution at 261.72 nm

Qx = Absorptivity of Trifluridine at 261.72nm / Absorptivity of Trifluridine at 279.12 nm = 3.569

Qx = Absorptivity of Trifluridine at 261.72 nm / Absorptivity of Trifluridine at 259.03 nm =  0.9401

Qy = Absorptivity of Tipiracil at 261.72 nm / Absorptivity of Tipiracil at 279.12 nm = 0.2106

Qy = Absorptivity of Tipiracil at 261.72 nm / Absorptivity of Tipiracil at 259.03 nm = 1.079

At 261.24 nm,          A1 = 258.37 CTRF + 376.51 CTPL (Borate buffer pH 9.0) 

                                A1 = 325.04 CTRF + 374.90 CTPL (Phosphate buffer pH 7.0).

At 301.87 nm,          A2 = 3.621 CTRF + 34.418 CTPL (Borate buffer pH 9.0)

                                A2 = 26.50 CTRF + 81.57 CTPL (Phosphate buffer pH 7.0)

 

Figure 2: Overlay absorption spectrum of Trifluridine and Tipiracil


Graphical absorbance ratio method (Method B)

In Method B the isosbestic point i.e. 279.12 nm (borate buffer); 259.03 nm (phosphate buffer) and the absorption maxima of one of the drugs (i.e. λmax Trifluridine = 261.72nm) (borate and phosphate buffer) were chosen. The absorptivity (Ɛ) values obtained at the selected wavelengths (Table 4) were substituted in the equation given below.

 

Cx           

Cx = Concentration of Trifluridine

 

Cy            

Cy =Concentration of Tipiracil

 

The linear regression equations for borate buffer pH 9.0 are found to be y = 0.0072x - 8E-05(0.9999), y = 0.0259x - 0.0022(0.9999), y = 0.0163x - 0.0011 (0.9999), y=0.0375x+0.0033(0.9997) for Trifluridine at 259.03nm, 261.72 and Tipiracil at 259.03nm, 261.72 nm respectively. The linear regression equations for phosphate buffer pH 9.0 are found to be y = 0.0347x - 0.0015 (0.9999), y = 0.0327x - 0.0044 (0.9999), y = 0.0076x + 0.0001 (0.9999), y = 0.0081x + 0.0012 (0.9999) for Trifluridine at 259.03nm, 261.72 and Tipiracil at 259.03nm, 261.72 nm respectively.

 

Beer-Lambert’s law was obeyed over the concentration range 1-80 µg/ml (borate buffer pH 9.0) and (phosphate buffer pH 7.0) in both Method A and Method B for Trifluridine and Tipiracil respectively. Calibration curves were drawn by taking the concentration on the x-axis and the corresponding absorbance values on the y axis for Method B (Figure 3). The % RSD in precision and accuracy studies for the simultaneous determination of Trifluridine and Tipiracil in Methods A and B was found to be less than 2.0 indicating that methods are precise and accurate.


 

Table 4: Linearity of Trifluridine and Tipiracil (Method B)

Borate buffer

Trifluridine

Tipiracil

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at 279.12nm

€ 279.12

nm

Absorbance at 261.24nm

€ 261.249nm

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at 279.12 nm

€ 279.12nm

Absorbance at 261.24 nm

€ 261.24nm

10

0.072

72

0.259

259.01

10

0.163

163

0.0349

34.9

20

0.145

72.5

0.519

259.05

20

0.327

163.5

0.069

34.5

30

0.218

72.66

0.772

257.33

30

0.491

163.66

0.103

34.33

40

0.289

72.25

1.035

258.75

40

0.641

163.25

0.138

34.5

50

0.362

72.4

1.291

258.2

50

0.818

163.6

0.170

34

60

0.435

72.5

1.541

256.8

60

0.979

163.16

0.209

34.83

70

0.502

72

1.811

258.7

70

1.144

163.42

0.239

34.14

80

0.582

72.75

2.061

257.6

80

1.306

163.25

0.276

34.15

Phosphate buffer pH 7.0

Trifluridine

Tipiracil

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at  259.03 nm

259.03 nm

Absorbance at

261.72 nm

261.72 nm

Conc. (µg/ml)

Absorbance at  259.03 nm

259.03 nm

Absorbance at

261.72 nm

261.72 nm

10

0.345

345.20

0.321

321.06

10

0.321

321.06

s

81.21

20

0.685

342.65

0.645

322.84

20

0.645

322.84

0.163

81.52

30

0.938

343.91

0.975

325.31

30

0.975

325.31

0.245

81.94

40

1.387

346.75

1.296

324

40

1.296

324

0.327

81.75

50

1.719

343.83

1.648

329.6

50

1.648

329.6

0.407

81.41

60

2.096

349.36

1.959

326.5

60

1.959

326.5

0.489

81.66

70

2.437

349.19

2.264

323.42

70

2.264

323.42

2.613

373.28

80

2.767

345.87

2.621

327.62

80

2.621

327.62

2.987

373.37

 

Figure 3: Calibration curves of Trifluridine and Tipiracil (Method B)

 

Figure 4: First order derivative absorption spectra of Trifluridine (TRF) and Tipiracil (TPL)

 

Table 5: Linearity of Trifluridine and Tipiracil (Method C)

Borate buffer

Phosphate buffer pH 7.0

Conc. (µg/ml)

Trifluridine

(Zero crossing point of Tipiracil 253.61 nm)

Tipiracil

(Zero crossing point of Trifluridine 232.53 nm)

Trifluridine

(Zero crossing point of Tipiracil 253.13 nm)

Tipiracil

(Zero crossing point of Trifluridine 261.95 nm)

Absorbance

Absorbance

Absorbance

Absorbance

10

0.231

0.319

0.010

0.0003

20

0.461

0.589

0.020

0.0007

30

0.678

0.881

0.029

0.010

40

0.912

1.156

0.039

0.014

50

1.14

1.435

0.048

0.017

60

1.37

1.751

0.058

0.021

70

1.59

2.022

0.068

0.024

80

1.82

2.296

0.078

0.028

 

 

 

Table 6: Assay of Trifluridine and Tipiracil tablets

Brand

Drug

Label

claim  (mg)

*Amount found (mg)

*% Recovery

Method A

Method B

Method C

Method A

Method B

Method C

I

Trifluridine

Tipiracil

20

8.9

19.95

8.85

19.97

8.87

19.93

8.84

99.75

99.43

99.85

99.66

99.65

99.32

II

Trifluridine

Tipiracil

20

8.9

19.94

8.83

19.90

8.86

19.96

8.87

99.70

99.21

99.50

99.55

99.80

99.66

 

 

 


First derivative method (Method C)

In first derivative method, with the help of in built software the individual zero order absorption spectra obtained for Trifluridine and Tipiracil were transformed in to first order derivative spectra (Figure 4). Trifluridine has showm zero crossing point (ZCP) at 261.95 and Tipiracil has shown zero crossing point (ZCP) at 253.13 respectively. Trifluridine was estimated at 253.61 nm (selected ZCP of Tipiracil); Tipiracil was estimated at 232.53 nm (selected ZCP of Trifluridine) for borate buffer pH 9.0 and Trifluridine was estimated at 253.13 nm (selected ZCP of Tipiracil); Tipiracil was estimated at 261.95 nm (selected ZCP of Trifluridine) for phosphate buffer pH 7.0 (Table 5).

 

Beer-Lambert’s law was obeyed over the concentration range 1-80 µg/ml in Method C for Trifluridine and Tipiracil respectively for both the buffers. Calibration curves were drawn by taking the concentration on the x-axis and the corresponding derivative absorbance values on the y axis. The % RSD in precision and accuracy studies of the simultaneous determination of Teneligliptin and Metformin in three methods A, B and C was found to be less than 2.0 indicating that the three methods are precise and accurate.

 

Assay of formulations (Tablets):

The percentage purity was found to be 99.50-99.85 and 99.21-99.63 for Trifluridine and Tipiracil respectively (Table 6) in Method A, Method B and Method C. The three methods can be successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of Trifluridine and Tipiracil.

 

CONCLUSION:

The three spectrophotometric methods are simple, economical, precise and accurate for the simultaneous determination of Trifluridine and Tipiracil in pharmaceutical formulations (Tablets).

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are grateful to M/s GITAM (Deemed to be) University, Visakhapatnam for providing the research facilities and Biophore pharmaceuticals for providing the gift samples. There is no conflict of interest.

 

REFERENCES:

1.        De Clercq. Antiviral drugs in current clinical use. Journal of Clinical Virology 2004; 30(2):115-133.

2.        Pavan Langston D, Nelson DJ. Intraocular penetration of trifluridine. American Journal of Ophthalmology 1979; 87(6); 814-818.

3.        Nozawa C, Hattori LY, Galhardi LC. Herpes simplex virus: isolation, cytopathological characterization and antiviral sensitivity. The Journal Brazilian Annals of Dermatology 2014; 89(1): 448-452.

4.        Beckman, A. O.; Gallaway, W. S.; Kaye, W.; Ulrich, W. F. History of spectrophotometry at Beckman Instruments, Inc. Analytical Chemistry 1977; 49(3): 280A-300A.

5.        B B Hazra N.M. Vageesh, C.Kistayya , M Shahanaz. Analytical method development and validation for simultaneous estimation of Trifluridine and Tipiracil in pure and pharmaceutical dosage form. Innovat International Journal of Medical & Pharmaceutical Sciences 2018; 3(1): 55-58.

6.        Phani R.S. Ch, K.R.S. Prasad, Useni Reddy Mallu. New Bio Analytical Method Development and Validation for the Simultaneous Estimation of Trifluridine and Tipiracil in spiked human plasma. Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2017; 10(12): 4264-4268.

7.        Swaroop Kumar Sahu, Ganesh Akula. Development and Validation of a RP-HPLC-PDA Method for Simultaneous Determination of Trifluridine and Tipiracil in Pure and Pharmaceutical Dosage FormInternational Journal of Novel Trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2017; 7(5): 145-151.

8.        Mainaaz, S.H. Rizwan, Khatija Mohammed Bhameshan, Arshiya Sultana. Analytical method development and validation for the simultaneous determination of Tipiracil and Trifluridine in bulk and capsule dosage form by RP-HPLC method. International Journal of Innovative Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 2017; 5(09): 32-42.

9.        Swapna.Goday, S.K.Abdulrahaman & A.Prameelarani. Development and validation of stability indicating RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous estimation of combination drugs Trifluridine and Tipiracil in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms. International Journal of Research in Applied, Natural and Social Sciences. 2017; 5(2): 93-104.

10.      Prathap. B, V. Hari Baskar, B. Kumar, P.S.Raghu, S. Bharath Kumar Reddy. Method development and validation for the simultaneous estimation of Trifluridine and Tipiracil in tablet dosage form by RP-HPLC method. Global Trends Pharm Sci 2017; 8(4): 4514 - 4521.

11.      Kusuma Jogi, Mandava Basaveswara Rao and Rundraraju Ramesh Raju. AN effective and sensitive stability indicating chromatographic approach based on RP-HPLC for Trifluridine and Tipiracil in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage form. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Chemistry   2017; 7(1): 63-70.

12.      ICH validation of analytical procedures: Text and Methodology Q2 (R1), International Conference on Harmonization. 2005.

 

 

 

Received on 10.02.2020         Modified on 19.03.2020

Accepted on 02.04.2020         © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2020; 13(4): 1847-1852.

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2020.00333.9