Decision-making tree for improving selectivity and sensitivity of sweeping-MEKC determination of hydrophobic analytes: Application to five cardiovascular drugs with greenness assessment

[Display omitted] •The first method for the simultaneous analysis of five cardiovascular drugs.•Efficient separation by new micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method.•Decision-making tree for the analysis of hydrophobic analytes.•Validation according to ICH and application to pharmaceutical formulations.•Assessment of greenness by Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI). Efficient separation of five cardiovascular drugs has been achieved by a new micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method based on using a general strategy that can be applied for the separation of different hydrophobic analytes, while keeping the highest possible sweeping efficiency and hence the highest possible sensitivity. The studied drugs include valsartan, atorvastatin, ezetimibe, amlodipine, and simvastatin. The separation is accomplished in less than 12 min by applying a basic background electrolyte composed of 10 mM disodium tetraborate buffer of pH 10.5 containing 25 mMSDS and 11% n-propanol at 30 kv. Cromolynsodium is used as an internal standard. Variables that may influence the electrophoretic mobility of the five compounds are investigated. The calibration plots are linear within ranges of 0.5–20.0 μg/mL, 0.5–10.0 μg/mL and 10.0–100.0 μg/mL for valsartan, ezetimibe and simvastatin (at 200 nm) and 1.0–30.0 μg/mL for amlodipine, atorvastatin and simvastatin (at 240 nm). Correlation coefficients are ≥ 0.9997 and detection limits are ranged between 0.12 and 2.05 μg/mL. Thedeveloped procedure is successfully utilized to estimate the studied compounds in different pharmaceutical preparations. The obtained data are statistically analyzed and evaluated. The greenness profile of the investigated approach has been assessed by a recent assessment tool to ensure the principles of green chemistry.