Paper microfluidic device and spectrophotometry methods for colorimetric detection of phenylephrine hydrochloride in pure and pharmaceutical preparations

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Two easy-to-use, rapid, and inexpensive colorimetric-based assays for the detection of active constituent in nasal decongestant phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHP), in solution and their respective pharmaceutical preparations were reported. The assay principle depends on the diazotized sulfadimidine (DSDM) coupling with PHP active pharmaceutical compound under alkaline conditions to produce a colored azo-dye product. A UV/VIS spectrophotometry method was utilized to monitor the color absorbance change at 460 nm, with a linear calibration graph in the concentration range of 1-20 mg L-1 and a limit of detection of 0.22 mg L-1 and limit of quantification of 0.72 mg L-1. A comparison was done using a paper-based microfluidic analytical device (µPADs) and color intensity change was measured using a Samsung note 9 camera to capture digital images and Image J software to analyze the color intensity development. A linear trend was observed above approximately 10 mg L-1. Thus, paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (µPADs) can be used as an alternative platform to conventional methods to perform a semi-quantitative PHP drug analysis. The proposed method was applied for the determination of PHP in commercial pharmaceutical preparations.   KEY WORDS: Phenylephrine hydrochloride, Spectrophotometry, Paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (µPADs), Pharmaceutical preparations, Colorimetric detection   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(4), 727-736.                                                             DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i4.1