Validation of a column liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of pramipexole and its five impurities

In this paper, a previously optimized method for HPLC analysis of pramipexole and its impurities was subjected to method validation in accordance with official regulations. The optimized chromatographic conditions were as follows: mobile phase acetonitrile-water phase [15 + 85, v/v, water phase contained 1% triethylamine (TEA), pH adjusted to 7.0 with orthophosphoric acid]; detection at 262 nm for pramipexole, BI-II 751 xx, BI-I 786 BS, BI-II 820 BS, and 2-aminobenzothiazole and at 326 nm for BI-II 546 CL; column temperature, 25 degrees C; and flow rate, 1 ml/min. Acetonitrile and TEA content, pH of the water phase, flow rate, column temperature, and column type were factors studied in robustness testing. According to the experimental plan defined by a Plackett-Burman design, five dummy variables were added in order to have 12 factors. As output, resolution factor was chosen. Robustness was assessed by graphical (half-normal probability plots and Pareto charts) and statistical (t-test) methods. Also, nonsignificance intervals for significant factors were estimated, and limits for the system suitability test were determined. Finally, linearity, accuracy, and precision of the proposed HPLC method were defined. LOD and LOQ values for analyzed impurities were determined. The method was completely defined by these experiments.