Comparison between core–shell and totally porous particle stationary phases for fast and green LC determination of five hepatitis‐C antiviral drugs

The performances of core–shell 2.7 μm and fully porous sub‐2 μm particles packed in narrow diameter columns were compared under the same chromatographic conditions. The stationary phases were compared for fast separation and determination of five new antiviral drugs; daclatasvir, sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, simeprevir, and ledipasvir. The gradient elution was done using ethanol as green organic modifier, which is more environmentally friendly. Although both columns provided very good resolution of the five drugs, core–shell particles had proven to be of better efficiency. Under gradient elution conditions, core–shell particles exhibited faster elution, better peak shape, and enhanced resolution adding to lower system backpressure. The column backpressure on sub‐2 μm particles was more than twice that on core–shell particles. This gives a chance to use conventional high‐performance liquid chromatography conditions without needing special instrumentation as that required for ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography. The method was validated for determination of the five drugs by gradient elution using mobile phase composed of organic modifier ethanol and aqueous part containing 0.75 g sodium octane sufonate and 3.0 g sodium dihydrogen phosphate per liter at pH of 6.15. Detection was done using UV‐detector set at 210 nm. The linearity, accuracy, and precision were found very good within the concentration range of 2–200 μg/mL.