Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating LC Method for the Determination of Venlafaxine in Extended-Release Capsules and Dissolution Kinetic Studies

A stability-indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method is developed and validated for the determination of venlafaxine hydrochloride (VEN) in extended-release capsules containing spherical beads and for dissolution studies. The method is carried out on a Luna C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm) maintained at 35°C. The mobile phase is composed of ammonium-acetate buffer 32 mM, adjusted to pH 6.8 with phosphoric acid-acetonitrile-methanol (62:30:8, v/v/v), run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and detection at 226 nm. Validation parameters such as the specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness are evaluated, giving results within the acceptable range. In order to evaluate the best dissolution condition, the dissolution profiles are performed under different conditions, such as media (HCl, water, phosphate buffer), apparatus (I and II), and dissolution rates (50, 75, and 100 rpm). The kinetics release mechanism is evaluated by fitting different models, such as the zero order rate, first order, and Higuchi. Moreover, the proposed method is successfully applied for the assay of VEN in extended-release capsules.