Stability-Indicating LC Assay and Degradation Behavior of Temozolomide Drug Substances

This study deals with a stability indicating HPLC reverse phase method for quantitative determination of temozolomide. A chromatographic separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS 3V, 250 x 4.6 mm ID, 5 μm column using mobile phase A (buffer 5 mL glacial acetic acid in 1,000 mL of Milli Q water ) and mobile phase B (methanol). Forced degradation studies were performed on bulk sample of temozolomide using acid (0.5 N hydrochloric acid), base (0.5 N sodium hydroxide), oxidation (10% v/v hydrogen peroxide), heat (60 °C) and UV light (254 nm). Degradation of the drug substance was observed in base hydrolysis and oxidation. Degradation product formed under these conditions was found to be Imp-A. When the stress samples were assayed, the mass balance was close to 99.5%. The sample solution was stable up to 48 h at 5 °C and mobile phase was found to be stable up to 48 h at 25 °C. The developed method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness and forced degradation studies prove the stability indicating power of the method.