Fexofenadine hydrochloride (FEX.HCl) figure (1, a), is a selective antagonist for histamine H1- receptor, it is an effective metabolite of terfenadine. Its chemical name is (RS)2-[4 [1-Hydroxy-4[4-(hydroxy-diphenyl-methyl)-piperidyl]butyl]phenyl]-2-methylpropanoic acid(1), fexofenadine described as a second or third-generation antihistamine, on 25 February 2000 FDA approved the utilization of fexofenadine for the handling of periodical allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria. It restrains the exacerbation of coryza and urticaria and reduces the stringency of the signs associated with those conditions such as sneezing, runny nose, irritating eyes(2). Montelukast Sodium (MON.Na) figure(1,b), is chemically 1-[[[(R)-m-[(E)-2-(7-chloro-2-quinolyl) vinyl]--[o-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl ethyl) phenethyl] benzyl]thio]-methyl]cyclopropaneacetate(3), (MON.Na) is an antagonist of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor, on 20/2/1998 FDA approved the utilization of MON for chronic handling of asthma, preventing airway edema, smooth muscle contraction and enhanced secretion of thick, viscous mucus(4). Literature showed several analytical methods for the estimation of each drug individually, Fexofenadine HCl was estimated individually by some analytical methods such as HPLC (5–7)– HPTLC(8)- spectrophotometric (9–12) - fluorimetry(13) – capillary electrophoresis(14) – potentiometry(15). Similarly, montelukast sodium (MON.Na) was determined using some analytical techniques such as HPLC(16–18), UV spectrophotometric (19)(16), capillary electrophoresis(20), Potentiometric (21, 22), and voltammetric (23). The combination remedy of fexofenadine with montelukast sodium supply enhancing effect thereby reducing the symptoms efficaciously(24), the determination of these drugs as combined dosage forms was limited by a few methods like HPLC (25–27), HPTLC (28) and derivative spectrophotometric methods(29)(30).There was no previous electrochemical method for the determination of fexofenadine HCl combined with montelukast Na. The novelty in this presented work that we have created a new, accurate, sensitive, time and cost-saving potentiometric method for determination of fexofenadine HCl and montelukast sodium simultaneously using pencil graphite electrodes depending on the difference in the active pH range for each sensor. Pencil graphite electrodes consider a developed form of ion-selective electrodes. The advantages of these electrodes are the small size where we can use them in biological systems, their first response time, long lifetime compared to those traditional ion-selective electrodes(31), in addition to the advantages have known for the ion-selective electrodes such as being simple, accurate, economic, and saving time where there is no need for previous procedures to the sample(32–36). We have successfully applied this method for the determination of the combined dosage form without previous separation and that was our scientific challenge.
Figure 1: Chemical structure of (a) fexofenadine hydrochloride (b) Montelukast sodium
fexofenadine act as a cation in that it makes up an ion pair with Molybdate anion, but montelukast act as anion and makes up ion pair with the cationic reagent cobalt nitrate, therefore we can determine each drug separately without interference of the other drug potential. The determination of fexofenadine hydrochloride and montelukast sodium in this presented work relies upon the construction of a pencil graphite electrode coated with a polymer film, which consists of polymer, plasticizer and ion pair of previous mention drugs and reagents. The ion pairs consider the active part in the electrode, the role of polymer is to provide a mechanical support to other components of membrane film, which covered the graphite rod, and the plasticizer gives an appropriate pliancy of the coating film. Among various types of ion-selective electrodes, pencil graphite electrode shows good adsorption, conductivity, high sensitivity, small background current, and simple preparation(37). These electrodes carry on as interface. Thus, the membrane potential in the cell sees as the electric potential difference between the two interfaces in accordance with Nernstian equation
E = E0 + 2.303 = RT/ZF log [FEX]
2.1 Apparatus
Potentiometric measurements carrying out using Radiometer analytical – ion check 10 pH/mv meter (CEDEX- France), all pH measurements were carried out utilizing Crison pH meter model Glp21/EU (Spain), ultrasonic bath model Power Sonic 405(Korea). All weights were taken by Sartorius balance model 2474 (Germany) its accuracy ± 0.1 mg.
2.2 materials and chemicals
High pure fexofenadine hydrochloride and Montelukast sodium was obtained by Sigma Aldrich, analytical grade ammonium molybdate, cobalt nitrate (BDH chemicals, England), high molecular weight PVC (SABC. KSA), tetrahydrofuran solvent (MERCK 99.5%), di- butyl phthalate (MERCK 99%).
2.3 Standard drug solutions
2.3.1 FEX stock standard solution (10− 2 mol L− 1)
The FEX stock solution was prepared by dissolving accurate weight in bi-distilled water, and then the volume was made up to the mark into a 50-mL volumetric flask.
2.3.2 MON stock solution (10− 2 mol L− 1)
The MON stock solution was prepared by dissolving accurate weight in bi-distilled water, and then the volume was made up to the mark into a 50-mL volumetric flask.
2.3.3 working solutions
A series of working solutions their concentrations varying (1 × 10− 7 − 1 × 10− 3 mol L− 1) were prepared by serial dilutions from the stock solutions using bi-distilled water.
2.4 procedure
2.4.1 preparation of FEX.Mol ion pair
The ion pair of fexofenadine cation with molybdate anion was prepared by mixing 1 mmol of fexofenadine hydrochloride with 1 mmol of molybdate ammonium, an off-white precipitate was formed, then the precipitate was filtered and washed several times by bi-distilled water. The conductivity of the filtrate was checked to be ≤ 2 µs/cm which confirmed the disposal of all obstructive ions.
2.4.2 preparation of MON.Co ion pair
The ion pair of Montelukast anion with cobalt cation was prepared by mixing of 1 mmol of Montelukast sodium with 2 mmol of cobalt nitrate, a pink precipitate was formed, then the precipitate was filtered and washed several times by bi-distilled water. The conductivity of the filtrate checked to be ≤ 2 µs/cm which confirmed the disposal of all obstructive ions.
2.4.3 Fabrication of FEX pencil graphite coated electrode
The coating solution was prepared by mixing 0.45 g PVC with 0.9 g DBP, then 0.15 g of ion Pair (FEX.Mol) was added, all the components were dissolved in a small volume of THF. In this previous solution, a graphite rod was immersed several times to get a homogeneous layer of the coating material on the graphite rod. The coated graphite electrode was activated before beginning to measure the potential, by dipping it in 10− 3 mol/l FEX solution for 24 hrs.
2.4.4 Fabrication of MON pencil graphite coated electrode
The coated solution was prepared by mixing 0.6 g PVC with 1.2 g DBP, then 0.2 g of ion Pair (MON.Co) was added, all the components were dissolved in a small volume of THF. In this previous solution, a graphite rod was immersed several times to get a homogeneous layer of the coating material o the graphite rod. The coated graphite electrode was activated before beginning to measure the potential, by dipping it in 10− 3 mol/l MON solution for 24 hrs.
2.4.5 fabrication of FEX&MON pencil graphite electrode (the combined electrode)
The preparation of this electrode was done by mixing 0.2 g of IP1 + 0.2 g of IP2 with 0.7 g PVC and 0.9 g DBP, all the components were dissolved in a small volume of THF. In this previous solution, a graphite rod was immersed several times to get a homogeneous layer of the coating material o the graphite rod. The coated graphite electrode was activated before beginning to measure the potential, by dipping it in (10− 3 mol.L− 1 ) FEX and MON solutions separately for 24 hrs. in each solution.
2.4.6 Direct potentiometric determination of fexofenadine hydrochloride
A standard series of fexofenadine hydrochloride (10− 7-10− 2) mol.l− 1 was prepared accurately and all the potentiometric measurements carried out using (1and 3) graphite coated electrodes in junction with Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The potential produced by the proposed electrodes was recorded for each concentration to get the regression equations, which used to determine this drug.
2.4.7 Direct potentiometric determination of Montelukast sodium
A standard series of Montelukast sodium (10− 7-10− 2) mol.l− 1 was prepared accurately and all the potentiometric measurements carried out using the (2 and 3) graphite coated electrodes in junction with Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The potential produced by the proposed electrodes was recorded for each concentration to get the regression equations, which used to determine this drug.
2.4.8 Effect of pH
The effect of pH on the potential response of the two sensors was studied over the pH ranges of (2–6) for fexofenadine and (3–11) for montelukast. This was obtained by adding diluted aliquots of (0.1 mol L− 1 ) hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide solutions to the (1.00 × 10− 3 and 1.00 × 10− 4) mol L− 1 drug solutions. The potential obtained at each pH value was recorded.
2.4.9 selectivity of the electrodes
The sensitivity of the constructed sensors was studied in the presence of some obstructive ions and excipients, which may exist with the drug material. The selectivity was studied using the matched potential method. In this method, the selectivity coefficient is characterized as the activity ratio of the essential and the interfering ion that exhibits the equal potential change(38).
K= ( α'A- αA) / αB
Where; K is the selectivity coefficient, α'A is the activity of the primary ion, αA is the fixed activity of the primary ion, αB is the activity of interfering ion.
2.4.10 determination of FEX and MON in laboratory prepared mixtures
Different ratio mixtures of FEX and MON solutions were prepared, for that, different volumes of the stocks solutions for both drugs were mixed to get a specific concentration of each drug which must be within the linearity range. Each drug was determined using its proposed sensor in the presence of the other drug, depends on the effective pH range for each electrode.
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2.4.11 Preparation of test solutions
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a. the determination of FEX.HCl in its pharmaceutical dosage form
For the determination of FEX.HCl in its pharmaceutical dosage form as a single drug. 20 tablets of Fexofenadine drug were finely powdered; exact weight proportionate to one tablet was taken, dissolved with bi-distilled water, and sonicate the solution in the ultrasonic bath for 5 minutes. Then the solution was filtered, an appropriate volume was taken from the filtrate and diluted with bi-distilled water in a 25 ml volumetric flask to get 10− 4 mol.l− 1 of drug solution.
b. the determination of MON.Na in its pharmaceutical dosage form
For the determination of MON.Na in its pharmaceutical dosage form as a single drug, 20 tablets of Azmalir drug were finely powdered; exact weight proportionate to one tablet was taken, dissolved with bi-distilled water, and sonicate the solution in the ultrasonic bath for 15 minutes. Then the solution was filtered, an appropriate volume was taken from the filtrate and diluted with bi-distilled water in a 25 ml volumetric flask to get 10− 4 mol.l− 1 of drug solution.
c. The determination of FEX& MON as a combination form
According to the common combination ratio of FEX&MON formulation, the binary mixture was prepared in ratio 12:1. precisely weighed (120 mg) FEX and (10 mg) MON then, common excipients that are used in the tablet formulation were added, the mixture was transferred to a 50 ml volumetric flask and diluted to the mark by bi-distilled water. For 20 minutes the solution was sonicated and filtered. From the filtrate, 10 ml was taken and diluted to 25 ml in volumetric flask by bi-distilled water to get the sample solution.