Tailoring Two Chemometric Models for Determination of Three Neuromuscular Combined Medications and Application to Spiked Human Plasma

Abstract

Abstract Background Prednisolone, 6-mercaptopurine, and pyridostigmine bromide are co-administered together to treat a neuromuscular autoimmune disease called myasthenia gravis. Prednisolone and 6-mercaptopurine are immunosuppressant drugs. 6-Mercaptopurine is the active form of the pro-drug azathioprine. Pyridostigmine bromide is a cholinesterase enzyme inhibitor. Curently, green characteristics are taken into account by analysts when they develop new methods. Objective The spectra of the three compounds and plasma are highly overlapped, so this study aims to remove this overlap and determine the three components quantitatively in raw powders and spiked human plasma using green methods. Methods Two multivariate updated chemometric models called principle component analysis and partial least-squares were developed. Three greenness assessment tools: the eco-scale, the analytical greenness metric approach, and the green analytical method index, were used to evaluate the greenness behavior of the generated models. Results The two models were verified in accordance with Food and Drug Administration requirements, and the results were within acceptable limits. In addition they are relatively green in accordance with the abovementioned greenness evaluation tools. Conclusion The developed models succeeded in determining the proposed drugs in their tertiary combinations and spiked human plasma with satisfactory precision, accuracy, and good greenness behavior. Highlights Two ecologically evaluated, multivariate spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of pyridostigmine bromide, 6-mercaptopurine, and prednisolone in spiked human plasma.