Rapid chemiluminometric determination of gabapentin in pharmaceutical formulations exploiting pulsed-flow analysis

In this study, a straightforward and automated pulsed flow-based procedure was developed for the chemiluminometric determination of gabapentin [1-(aminomethyl)cyclo-hexaneacetic acid], a new generation antiepileptic drug, in different formulated dosage forms. The software-controlled time-based injection method capitalizes on the decrease of the background chemiluminescence (CL) readout of the luminol-hypochlorite reaction in the presence of gabapentin. In short, gabapentin works as a hypochlorite scavenger. The analytical procedure was implemented in a multi-pumping flow network furnished with a suite of microdispensing solenoid-actuated pumps. The diaphragm-type micropumps might be configured to operate as fluid propellers, commutation units and metering injectors. A dynamic linear working range for gabapentin concentrations in the range 60-350 micromol/L was obtained, with an estimated detection limit of 40 micromol/L. The flow analyser handles about 41 injections/h and yields precise results (RSD < 2%). The miniaturized flow analyser thus has potential to be exploited for in-line monitoring of drug manufacturing within the quality assurance framework of modern pharmaceutical companies.