Micellar liquid chromatography determination of rivaroxaban in plasma and urine. Validation and theoretical aspects

A Micellar Chromatographic method to determine rivaroxaban in plasma and urine has been developed. The samples were dissolved in the mobile phase (SDS 0.05 M - 1-propanol 12.5%, phosphate buffered at pH 7) and 20 μL directly injected, avoiding the extraction and purification steps. Using a C18 column and running under isocratic mode at 1 mL/min, analyte was eluted without interference from the matrix in <6.0 min. The detection absorbance wavelength was set to 250 nm. The procedure was validated by Food and Drug Administration guidelines in terms of: system suitability, calibration range (0.05-5 mg/L), linearity, sensitivity, robustness, carry-over effect, specificity, accuracy (-11.1 to 4.2%), precision (<19.9%), stability and analysis of incurred samples. The method was found reliable, practical, easy-to-conduct, rapid, relatively eco-friendly, safe, inexpensive, widely available and with a high sample throughput. The method was applied to the analysis of incurred samples, including incurred sample reanalysis, to verify that the instrumentation works correctly. In addition, the constants of the different partition equilibria occurring in the column were elucidated in order to have a better comprehension of the theoretical aspects of the retention mechanism. A moderately strong association between rivaroxaban and the stationary phase and the micelles was found, weakened by short chain alcohol.