Chemometrically assissted optimization and validation of RP-HPLC method for the analysis of itraconazole and its impurities

This paper presents the chemometrically assisted optimization and validation of the RP-HPLC method intended for the quantitative analysis of itraconazole and its impurities in pharmaceutical dosage forms. To reach the desired chromatographic resolution with a limited number of experiments in a minimum amount of time, Box- -Behnken design was used to simultaneously optimize some important chromatographic parameters, such as the acetonitrile content in the mobile phase, pH of the aqueous phase and the column temperature. Separation between itraconazole and impurity F was identified as critical and selected as a response during the optimization. The set optimal mobile phase composition was acetonitrile/ water pH 2.5 adjusted with o-phosphoric acid (50:50, V/V). Separations were performed on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18, 4.6 × 150 mm, 5 μm particle size column with the flow rate 1 mL min-1, column temperature set at 30 °C and UV detection at 256 nm. The established method was then subjected to method validation and the required validation parameters were tested. For the robustness evaluation, fractional factorial 24-1 design was utilized and factors that might significantly affect the system performance were defined. As other validation parameters were also found to be suitable, the possibility to apply the proposed method for the determination of itraconazole, its impurities B and F in any laboratory under different circumstances has been proven.