An isocratic HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of cholesterol, cardiolipin, and DOPC in lyophilized lipids and liposomal formulations.

Phospholipids, such as 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), and 1,1',2,2'-tetramyristoyl cardiolipin, along with cholesterol, form liposomes in aqueous media and have been investigated at NeoPharm (Lake Bluff, IL) as drug-delivery systems. To accurately assess the effectiveness of various formulations involving the use of aforementioned phospholipids and cholesterol, their quantitative determination is essential. An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of cholesterol, cardiolipin, and DOPC in various pharmaceutical formulations containing the active drug substance has consequently been developed and is presented here. The current method utilizes an ASTEC-diol analytical column and is shown to be stability-indicating and free from interference from any of the formulation excipients, such as sucrose, sodium chloride, and sodium lactate. The analytes are detected using an evaporative light scattering detector (Alltech or Polymer Laboratories). The quantitation of each lipid component is performed using non-linear regression analysis. The retention characteristics of the analytes are examined as a function of eluent composition (e.g., pH, salt content, organic to aqueous phase ratio) and column temperature. The method was validated and was found to be sensitive, specific, rugged, and cost-effective. The current method provides enhanced chromatographic separation for lipid components as well as degradation products as compared to similar methods reported in the literature. It is also inherently simpler than other similar methods reported in the literature that typically use complex gradient elution.