APPLICATION OF CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS TO PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS - DETERMINATION OF ALENDRONATE IN DOSAGE FORMS

A method using capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the determination of alendronate (a non-chromophoric compound) in pharmaceutical dosage forms is described. Direct UV detection is based on the on-line formation of a chromophoric complex between alendronate and Cu2+ ions present in the electrolyte solution. The CE method has been validated to address the quantitative aspects for practical applications. Tablet dosage forms can be suitably assayed by the proposed method. Analysis of intravenous solutions encounters interference from citrate anion, a strong metal-chelating agent, present in the formulation, resulting in low and irreproducible assay results. The developed CE method obviates any derivatization procedure and involves minimum sample preparation.