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Abstract

The present study aimed to develop and validate a simple, precise, accurate, robust, and economical reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method for the quantitative estimation of Ciprofloxacin in tablet dosage forms. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) in the ratio of 60:40 (v/v), delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection was performed at 278 nm with an injection volume of 20 µL. The method exhibited excellent linearity over the concentration range of 10–100 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.999. The mean recovery was found to be 99.1%, indicating good accuracy. Intra-day and inter-day precision studies showed %RSD values of 0.82% and 0.95%, respectively. The LOD and LOQ values were 0.25 µg/mL and 0.80 µg/mL, respectively. System suitability parameters showed a retention time of approximately 4.2 min and a tailing factor of 1.2.

Keywords

Ciprofloxacin, RP-HPLC, Method Validation, ICH Guidelines, Tablet Dosage Form, Pharmaceutical Analysis

Introduction

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Pharmaceutical analysis plays an essential role in ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceutical products. Among various analytical techniques, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is one of the most reliable and widely accepted methods for the

 

qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical compounds.

Ciprofloxacin is a second-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic extensively used for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. It acts by inhibiting bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, thereby preventing DNA replication and resulting in bacterial cell death.

Due to the widespread clinical use of Ciprofloxacin, reliable analytical methods are required for quality control and regulatory compliance. Therefore, the present investigation focused on the development and validation of an RP-HPLC method for the estimation of Ciprofloxacin in tablet dosage forms according to ICH guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chemicals and Reagents

  • Ciprofloxacin Reference Standard
  • Marketed Ciprofloxacin Tablets
  • Acetonitrile (HPLC grade)
  • Methanol (HPLC grade)
  • Orthophosphoric Acid
  • Milli-Q Water

Instrumentation

  • HPLC System equipped with UV detector and quaternary pump
  • Analytical Balance
  • Sonicator
  • Digital pH Meter
  • Syringe Filter (0.45 µm)

Chromatographic Conditions

Parameter

Condition

Column

C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm)

Mobile Phase

Acetonitrile : Phosphate Buffer (60:40 v/v)

pH

3.5

Flow Rate

1.0 mL/min

Detection Wavelength

278 nm

Injection Volume

20 µL

Run Time

10 min

Column Temperature

Ambient

Preparation of Standard Solution

Accurately weighed 100 mg of Ciprofloxacin reference standard was dissolved in mobile phase and diluted to 100 mL to obtain a stock solution of 1000 µg/mL.

Preparation of Sample Solution

Ten tablets were weighed and powdered. A quantity equivalent to 100 mg of Ciprofloxacin was dissolved in mobile phase, sonicated for 15 minutes, filtered through a 0.45 µm membrane filter, and diluted appropriately.

Method Validation

Linearity

Calibration standards ranging from 10–100 µg/mL were prepared and injected into the HPLC system.

Concentration (µg/mL)

Peak Area

10

12545

20

25110

40

50230

60

75340

80

100520

100

125600

Correlation coefficient (R²): 0.999

Accuracy

Recovery studies were performed at three levels.

Level

% Recovery

80%

98.6

100%

99.2

120%

100.3

Mean recovery: 99.1%

Precision

Parameter

%RSD

Intra-day Precision

0.82

Inter-day Precision

0.95

 

Sensitivity

Parameter

Value (µg/mL)

LOD

0.25

LOQ

0.80

Robustness

Small deliberate changes in flow rate, mobile phase composition, and wavelength showed no significant effect on chromatographic performance.

System Suitability

Parameter

Result

Retention Time

4.2 min

Theoretical Plates

>3000

Tailing Factor

1.2

Resolution

>2

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The developed RP-HPLC method successfully produced a sharp and symmetrical peak of Ciprofloxacin with acceptable retention time and excellent peak resolution. The method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² = 0.999), indicating a direct proportional relationship between concentration and detector response.

Recovery studies confirmed the accuracy of the method, with percentage recoveries within acceptable limits. Precision studies exhibited %RSD values below 2%, demonstrating good reproducibility. The low LOD and LOQ values indicated adequate sensitivity of the method.

Robustness studies showed that minor changes in chromatographic conditions did not significantly affect analytical performance. Assay of marketed tablet formulations indicated drug content within pharmacopeial limits, confirming the suitability of the method for routine quality control applications.

 

CONCLUSION

A simple, rapid, precise, accurate, and robust RP-HPLC method was successfully developed and validated for the estimation of Ciprofloxacin in tablet dosage forms. The method complied with ICH validation requirements and demonstrated excellent analytical performance. The validated method can be effectively employed for routine quality control analysis, stability studies, and pharmaceutical research involving Ciprofloxacin formulations.

REFERENCES

  1. Bera AK, De AK, Pal B. RP-HPLC method development and validation for ciprofloxacin from marketed tablets. J Chem Pharm Res. 2014.
  2. Hasan N, et al. RP-HPLC method for ciprofloxacin in bulk and dosage forms. World Applied Sciences Journal. 2014.
  3. Sani AA, et al. HPLC assay method for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride in tablets. J Appl Pharm Sci. 2011.
  4. Imre S, et al. Validation of HPLC method for ciprofloxacin in plasma and formulation. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2003.
  5. Patel DM, et al. Stability indicating RP-HPLC method for ciprofloxacin. Int J Pharm Sci. 2017.
  6. Singh R, et al. Validated RP-HPLC method for ciprofloxacin in dosage forms. Asian J Pharm Anal. 2018.
  7. Gupta V, et al. HPLC method development for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets. Int J Pharm. 2019.
  8. Mehta P, Shah N. Analytical method validation of ciprofloxacin by RP-HPLC. J Appl Pharm Sci. 2021.

Reference

  1. Bera AK, De AK, Pal B. RP-HPLC method development and validation for ciprofloxacin from marketed tablets. J Chem Pharm Res. 2014.
  2. Hasan N, et al. RP-HPLC method for ciprofloxacin in bulk and dosage forms. World Applied Sciences Journal. 2014.
  3. Sani AA, et al. HPLC assay method for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride in tablets. J Appl Pharm Sci. 2011.
  4. Imre S, et al. Validation of HPLC method for ciprofloxacin in plasma and formulation. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2003.
  5. Patel DM, et al. Stability indicating RP-HPLC method for ciprofloxacin. Int J Pharm Sci. 2017.
  6. Singh R, et al. Validated RP-HPLC method for ciprofloxacin in dosage forms. Asian J Pharm Anal. 2018.
  7. Gupta V, et al. HPLC method development for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets. Int J Pharm. 2019.
  8. Mehta P, Shah N. Analytical method validation of ciprofloxacin by RP-HPLC. J Appl Pharm Sci. 2021.

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Vipin Kumar Singhal
Corresponding author

Jaipur school of pharmacy, MVG University, Jaipur

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Manmohan Singh
Co-author

Jaipur School of Pharmacy, MVG University, Jaipur.

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Narendra Sharma
Co-author

Jaipur School of Pharmacy, MVG University, Jaipur

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Vishal Garg
Co-author

Jaipur School of Pharmacy, MVG University, Jaipur

Manmohan Singh, Vipin Kumar Singhal, Narendra Sharma, Vishal Garg, Development and Validation of a Reverse Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for Estimation of Ciprofloxacin in Tablet Dosage Form, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2026, Vol 4, Issue 7, 2403-2406, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21323476