Loss on drying
(see
Thermal Analysis á891ñ)
[NOTEIn this procedure,perform weighings rapidly with minimum exposure of the substances to air.
]Determine the percentage of volatile substances by thermogravimetric analysis on an appropriately calibrated instrument,using about 10mg of Vinblastine Sulfate,accurately weighed.Heat the specimen at the rate of 5

per minute between ambient temperature and 200

in an atmosphere of nitrogen at a flow rate of 40mLper minute.From the thermogram,determine the accumulated loss in weight between ambient temperature and a point on the plateau before decomposition is indicated (at about 160

):it loses not more than 15.0%of its weight.
Related compounds
Mobile phase
,
System suitability preparation,and
Chromatographic systemPrepare as directed in the
Assay.
High load test preparation
Prepare as directed for
Assay preparationin the
Assay.
Low load test preparation
Pipet 1mLof High load test preparationinto a 25-mLvolumetric flask,dilute with water to volume,and mix.
Procedure
Separately inject 200µLof the
Low load test preparationand of the
High load test preparationinto the chromatograph,and record the chromatograms.Measure the peak responses,
ri,of any related substances appearing after the solvent peak in the chromatogram of the
High load test preparation.Calculate the total percentage of responses due to related substances taken by the formula:
100rt/(rt+25rv),
in which
rt is the sum of the
ri responses;and
rvis the vinblastine peak response in the chromatogram of the
Low load test preparation.Not more than 3.0%is found.Calculate the percentage response of each related substance taken by the formula:
100ri/(rt+25rv).
Not more than 1.0%of response due to any individual related substance is found.
Assay
Mobile phase
Mix 14mLof diethylamine with 986mLof water,and adjust with phosphoric acid to a pHof 7.5(Solution A).Mix 200mLof acetonitrile with 800mLof methanol (Solution B).Mix 380mLof Solution Awith 620mLof Solution B,pass through a 0.5-µm filter,and degas under vacuum.The ratio of Solutions Aand Bmay be varied to meet system suitability requirements and to provide a suitable elution time for vinblastine sulfate.
Standard preparation
Dissolve an accurately weighed quantity of
USP Vinblastine Sulfate RSin water to obtain a solution having a known concentration of about 0.4mg per mL.
Assay preparation
Transfer about 4mg of Vinblastine Sulfate,accurately weighed,to a 10-mLvolumetric flask,dissolve in and dilute with water to volume,and mix.
System suitability preparation
Dissolve an amount of
USP Vincristine Sulfate RSin a portion of
Standard preparationto obtain a solution having concentrations of about 0.4mg of each Reference Standard per mL.
Chromatographic system
(see
Chromatography á621ñ)The liquid chromatograph is equipped with a 262-nm detector,a pre-column packed with porous silica gel installed between the pump and the injector,and a 4.6-mm ×15-cm analytical column that contains packing L1.The
Mobile phaseis maintained at a pressure and flow rate (about 2mLper minute)capable of producing the required resolution and a suitable elution time.Chromatograph replicate injections of the
Standard preparation,and record the peak responses as directed for
Procedure:the relative standard deviation is not more than 2.0%.Similarly chromatograph 20µLof the
System suitability preparation,and record the peak responses:the resolution,
R,between the vincristine and vinblastine is not less than 4.0.
[NOTEFor a particular column,the resolution may be increased by increasing the proportion of
Solution Ain the
Mobile phase.
]
Procedure
Separately inject equal volumes (about 20µL)of the
Standard preparationand the
Assay preparation into the chromatograph,record the chromatograms,and measure the responses for the major peaks.Calculate the quantity,in mg,of C
46H
58N
4O
9.H
2SO
4in the portion of Vinblastine Sulfate taken by the formula:
10C(rU/rS),
in which
Cis the concentration,in mg per mL,of
USP Vinblastine Sulfate RS(corrected for loss in weight)in the
Standard preparation;and
rUand
rSare the peak responses obtained from the
Assay preparationand the
Standard preparation,respectively.