Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) system for analysis of vitamin D3 soft capsules with soybean oil matrix

Abstract

ObjectiveTo develop a method for the determination and impurity analysis of vitamin D3 soft capsules with soybean oil matrix in reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) system. MethodsRP-HPLC system had Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) with detection wavelength of 265 nm, column temperature of 25 ℃ and flow rate of 1 mL/min. Retention behaviors of vitamin D3 and its 3 isomers were studied by altering the mobile phase. Firstly, acetonitrile was mixed with different proportions of methanol, water and ethanol as the mobile phase to investigate the effects of these 4 mobile phase components on the retention behavior of vitamin D3 and its 3 main related substances (isomers) on a C18 column. Then, a suitable mobile phase was selected for content determination and impurity analysis according to the retention behavior study. ResultsThe recovery was only 80.55%-84.37% with 100% acetonitrile as the mobile phase.The addition of ethanol in acetonitrile was found to make remarkably significant improvement. Recovery rate was achieved between 98.07% and 103.23% with V (acetonitrile):V (ethanol)=90:10 as the mobile phase, while improving peak shape. The method showed good linearity [(0.52-5.2)×10-4 μmol/L, R2>0.999] and fine density (RSD < 2.32%) which can be used for determination. For impurities profile, it could be achieved using V (acetonitrile):V (water)=95:5 as the mobile phase which can obviate interference from soybean oil matrix. ConclusionsThe method established in this experiment can easily and accurately determine the content and impurity analysis of vitamin D3 soft capsules with soybean oil matrix in a RP-HPLC system.