Validated UPLC method for determination of unbound bile acids in colesevelam HCl tablets

A simple, precise and accurate gradient reverse-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the quantitative determination of bile acids [glycocholic acid (GCA), glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDA) and taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA)) in in vitro bile acid-binding study of Welchol tablets. The method was developed using Phenomenex Kinetex C18 (50 × 2.10 mm, 1.7 µm) column with mobile phase containing a gradient mixture of solvent A consisting of 0.02 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate (pH 7.5) and solvent B consists acetonitrile. The eluted compounds were monitored at 210 nm and the runtime was within 2 min. The binding parameter constants of Colesevelam HCl tablets 625 mg were determined using the Langmuir approximation at pH 6.8 by UPLC. The method is selective and capable of detecting bile acids in the presence of placebo matrix. The method has been validated with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.01 mM for bile acids. A linear response function was established for the range of concentrations 0.01-30.0 mM (r > 0.99) for GCA, GCDA and TDCA. The intra- and interday precision values for bile acids met the acceptance as per Food and Drug Administrations guidelines. The developed method was applied to in vitro bile acid-binding studies of Colesevelam HCl tablets.