UHPLC Analysis of Diclofenac in Gel using a Monolithic Silica Column
A comparison to a sub-2 µm fully porous particulate (FPP) hybrid silica column with UV & MS detection
![Chemical structure of diclofenac sodium (2-[(2,6-Dichlorophenyl) amino] benzeneacetic acid sodium salt, diclofenac sodium salt)](/deepweb/assets/sigmaaldrich/marketing/global/images/technical-documents/articles/analytical-chemistry/small-molecule-hplc/diclofenac-sodium-gel/diclofenac-sodium-gel.jpg "Diclofenac Sodium Gel")
Diclofenac sodium
Introduction
Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammatory diseases. Diclofenac was patented in 1965 and came into medical use in the United States in 1988. It is available as a sodium or potassium salt. This report focuses on the analysis of diclofenac sodium salt in a gel under UHPLC conditions. Matrix-rich formulations such as gel, typically require extensive sample preparation in particular when using sub-2 µm UHPLC columns. In this work, the sample preparation was kept simple as extensive sample preparation significantly contributes to the time and cost spent per analysis.
A Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18 endcapped column 100 x 2 mm I.D. is compared with a fully porous particulate (FPP) 1.7 µm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D. from a competitor using HPLC-MS and HPLC-UV methods. For both columns, a stability test was performed with repeated sample overloading in order to stress both columns to a maximum.
Experimental Method: Diclofenac Sodium in Gel with MS detection
- HPLC-MS analysis of diclofenac sodium standard solutions using Chromolith® HighResolution
- HPLC-MS analysis of diclofenac sodium standard solutions using FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column
- HPLC-MS analysis of diclofenac gel sample solutions using Chromolith® HighResolution
- HPLC-MS analysis of diclofenac gel sample solutions using FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column
Figure 1.LC-MS Data on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on
Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column.
1. Specificity: Inject a standard solution of diclofenac sodium and determine the retention time and content of the desired analyte with MS detection.
2. Sample repeatability of diclofenac sodium gel with MS detection
3. LOD & LOQ diclofenac sodium with MS detection
4. Linearity diclofenac sodium with MS detection
Figure 2.Linearity data with LC-MS on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column.
Figure 3.LC-MS Data on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D.
1. Specificity: Inject a standard solution of diclofenac sodium and determine the retention time and content of the desired analyte with MS detection.
2. Sample repeatability of diclofenac sodium gel with MS detection
3. LOD & LOQ diclofenac sodium with MS detection
4. Linearity diclofenac sodium with MS detection
Figure 4.Linearity data with LC-MS on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D.
Figure 5.LC-MS Data on separation of diclofenac gel sample solution on Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column.
Chromatographic data - sample solution (Figure 5.)
Figure 6.LC-MS Data on separation of diclofenac gel sample solution on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D.
Chromatographic data - sample solution (Figure 6.)
Experimental Method: Diclofenac Sodium in Gel with UV Detection
- HPLC-UV analysis of diclofenac sodium standard solutions on Chromolith® HighResolution
- HPLC-UV analysis of diclofenac sodium standard solutions on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column
- HPLC-UV analysis of diclofenac gel sample solutions using Chromolith® HighResolution
- HPLC-UV analysis of diclofenac gel sample solutions using FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column
Figure 7.Blank run UV data on Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column.
Figure 8.Blank run UV data on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D.
Figure 9.UV Data on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column.
1. Specificity: Inject a standard solution of diclofenac sodium and determine the retention time and content of the desired analyte with UV detection.
2. Sample repeatability of diclofenac sodium gel in area (counts) with UV detection
3. LOD & LOQ diclofenac sodium with UV detection
4. Linearity diclofenac sodium with UV detection
Figure 10.Linearity data with UV on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column.
HPLC-UV analysis of diclofenac sodium standard solutions on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column
Figure 11.UV Data on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D.
1. Specificity: Inject a standard solution of diclofenac sodium and determine the retention time and content of the desired analyte with UV detection.
2. Sample repeatability of diclofenac sodium gel with UV detection
3. LOD & LOQ diclofenac sodium with UV detection
4. Linearity diclofenac sodium with UV detection
Figure 12.Linearity data with UV on separation of diclofenac sodium standard solution on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column from competitor 100 x 2.1 mm I.D.
HPLC-UV analysis of diclofenac gel sample solutions using Chromolith® HighResolution
Figure 13.UV Data on separation of diclofenac gel sample solution on Chromolith® High Resolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column.
Chromatographic data - sample solution (Figure 13.)
HPLC-UV analysis of diclofenac gel sample solutions using FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column
Figure 14.UV Data on separation of diclofenac gel sample solution on FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D.
Chromatographic data - sample solution (Figure 14.)
Stability Test – Chromolith® monolithic silica column v/s FPP µm hybrid silica column
The stability test was performed to demonstrate the resistance to column clogging rep. matrix-tolerance and stability of a monolithic silica column in comparison to a 1.7 μm fully porous particulate (FPP) column which is typically used in UHPLC applications. Both columns have been treated the same way with frequent overloading to stress both columns to a maximum.
Both columns were tested with three 1 μL injections after stressing the columns 10 times with 10 μL injections. No pre-columns were used for this test.
Column backpressure / Injection volume
Figure 15.Stability test data on Chromolith®HighResolution RP-18 endcapped 100 x 2 mm I.D. column and FPP 1.7 μm hybrid silica column from competitor 100 x 2.1 mm I.D. Data points with 1 mL injections were used for measurement.
Conclusion
It was shown, that a Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18e 100 x 2 mm I.D. column can be utilized for the determination of Diclofenac sodium in a gel with a typical UHPLC instrument. The resulting LOD and LOQ values are comparable to the values of the fully porous particulate (FPP) 1.7 µm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D. with UV and MS detection. The limit of detection (LOD) with UV detection was 1.4 µg/mL and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) with UV detection was 4.2 µg/mL for the Chromolith® HighResolution RP-18e 100 x 2 mm column. By using MS detection, the sensitivity was improved to 0.5 µg/mL (LOD) and 1.5 µg/mL (LOQ). Due to its large macroporous structure, the Chromolith® monolithic silica column shows high permeability with significant lower column backpressure in comparison to the FPP 1.7 µm column. The bi-modal pore structure of monolithic columns also results in short analysis times. In addition, monolithic silica columns show an outstanding robustness and high matrix-tolerance. In a stability test, stressing the columns to the limit, the monolithic column was able to allow for 7000 µL of gel sample to be injected. Under same conditions the fully porous particulate (FPP) 1.7 μm hybrid silica C18 column 100 x 2.1 mm I.D. clogged after 520 µL total injected sample volume. As a consequence, the 1.7 µm FPP column will require an extended sample preparation in order to ensure a longer column lifetime. This results in significantly higher cost per sample and additional time spend per analysis.
Learn more about Chromolith® monolithic silica columns at SigmaAldrich.com/chromolith
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