Noninvasive polarographic measurement of drug dissolution

Polarographic analysis was applied successfully to dissolution studies and content uniformity assessment of both capsules and tablets, using a dropping mercury electrode with the modified Levy beaker method. The described noninvasive technique places the polarographic sensor probe directly into the dissolution flask and thus simplifies dissolution measurement by eliminating transfer lines and pumps typically required with the invasive (sampling) mode of analysis. A continuous sampling flowcell with polarographic detection was also evaluated for invasive measurements. Continuous dissolution profiles and content uniformity were determined for chlordiazepoxide, trimethoprim, ornidazole, and isoniazid, using the invasive and noninvasive sampling modes. Results obtained for these drugs showed excellent precision with both sampling techniques. In addition, excellent correlation to UV spectrophotometric data was obtained.