Validation of an HPLC Method Devised for the Quantitative Determination of Ropivacaine in Drug-Delivery Systems

Abstract

Local anesthetics are used to alleviate or eliminate acute and chronic pain[1-3]. Ropivacaine (RVC) is a long acting local anesthetic with a chemical structure closely related to other amino-amides cyclic agents: mepivacaine and bupivacaine[3,4]. It is synthesized in the S enantiomeric form, which is less toxic to the Central Nervous and Cardiac systems[5]. Furthermore, studies in animals and humans suggest that RVC induces less motor block compared to bupivacaine, given the greater selectivity of the S isomer to sensory nerve fibers[6]. The use of drug-delivery systems (DDS) such as liposomal formulations and cyclodextrin-inclusion complexes, have been proposed to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble local anesthetics[7,8]. Nowadays, several DDS based on these two carriers can be found among the commercially available local anesthetics products[9,10]. HPLC is the method-of-choice for quantification of drugs in different fluids due to its sensitivity, reproducibility and specificity. Reports on the literature describe precise methods for the quantification, using HPLC, of local anesthetics in serum[11-13],