Application of TLC-densitometry, first-derivative UV-spectrophotometry and ratio derivative spectrophotometry for the determination of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate.

Three methods are described for the simultaneous determination of dorzolamide hydrochloride (DORZ) and timolol maleate (TIM) in ophthalmic solutions. The first method is based on application of thin layer chromatographic separation of both drugs followed by the densitometric measurements of their spot areas. After separation on silica gel GF(254) plates, using methanol-ammonia 25% (100:1.5 v/v) as the mobile phase, the chromatographic zones corresponding to the spots were scanned at 253 and 297 nm, respectively. The calibration function was established in the ranges of 2-18 microg for DORZ and 0.5-4.5 microg for TIM. The second method depends on first derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry, with zero-crossing measurement method. The first derivative values D(1) at 250.2 and 312.5 nm were selected for the assay of DORZ and TIM, respectively. Calibration graphs follow Beer's law in the range 10-64 and 2.5-16 microg ml(-1), respectively. The third method is based on ratio first derivative spectrophotometry. The signals in the first derivative of the ratio spectra at 244 and 306.2 nm were selected to determine DORZ and TIM in the mixture and calibration graphs are linear in the range of 5-40 and 5.0-17.5 microg ml(-1), respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these compounds in synthetic mixtures and in pharmaceutical preparations. The proposed methods are simple, rapid and suitable for quality control application.