Application of Multidimensional Screening and Analysis and Computer Simulation Software for Rapid HPLC Method Development

Abstract

A comprehensive automated strategy for the development of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-UV chromatographic method for a basic drug candidate (pKa 7.7), its impurities, and degradants was demonstrated by using multidimensional screening and analysis (MeDuSA) and Drylab ® computer optimization software. Phase 1 of the strategy employed an automated column selection system and solvent screening (MeDuSA). Samples were screened using ten columns of varying selectivity and high pH stability in combination with four mobile phases of differing pH (pH 2, 4, 7, and 10) containing acetonitrile and methanol as organic modifiers. The best chromatographic conditions (greater number of resolved impurities, tailing factor~1.0, resolution >1.4) were obtained using the methyl hybrid organicinorganic polymer phase Xbridge C18 and pH 7 and pH 10 ammonium acetate/methanol/acetonitrile mobile phase. Further screening in MeDuSA using mobile phases A: 0.01 M NH 4 OAc in CH 3 CN/water (5:95), and B: 0.01 M NH 4 OAc in CH 3 CN/water (95:5) at pH 7 demonstrated that CH 3 CN is the more critical organic modifier for selectivity. In phase 2, DryLab ® software was used to model the effect of temperature, pH, and ionic strength of the buffer on resolution and peak shape to determine the design space of the method and establish the optimal operating conditions. In silico optimization supported by DryLab ® enabled the determination of the optimum conditions without carrying out trial-and-error simulations. Excellent agreement between Drylab ® simulation and experimental results was obtained. As a result of this strategy, a method with the highest resolution of all components, optimum tailing factor (~1.05), and decreased run time (from 35 to 14 min compared to the original method) was developed faster and with higher efficiency in comparison to the traditional method development process.