Development and Validation of HPTLC Method for Estimation of Pimecrolimus in Formulations

Abstract

To identify the quantitative determination of pimecrolimus, a novel, straightforward, and rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method with a derivatization process was created and validated. On a silica gel 60 F254 TLC plate, pimecrolimus was chromatographed using toluene-acetonitrile-glacial acetic acid (6:4:0.5, by volume) as the mobile phase. Pimecrolimus was measured using densitometric analysis in the reflectance mode at 690 nm after being visualised with a derivatization reagent that contained anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid in absolute alcohol. It was discovered that the technique produced compact spots for the drug (Rf= 0.55gb ± 0.03). In the concentration range of 800-4800 ng/spot, the results from the calibration plots' linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong linear relationship with r 2 =0.9989. According to the International Conference on Harmonization's guidelines, the method's precision, recovery, repeatability, and robustness were all verified. The limit of quantitation was found to be 97.04 ng, while the lowest detectable amount was found to be 28.90 ng. The technique is precise, accurate, reproducible, and selective for the analysis of pimecrolimus, according to statistical analysis of the data. The technique worked well for quantifying and estimating the equilibrium solubility of pimecrolimus both as a bulk drug and in commercially available cream formulations.