Simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of oseltamivir phosphate in capsules through derivatization with fluorescamine.

A new, simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of oseltamivir phosphate (OSP) in capsules. The method is based on the reaction between oseltamivir and fluorescamine in borate buffer solution of pH 8.50 to give highly fluorescent derivatives that are measured at 483 nm using an excitation wavelength of 381. The different experimental parameters effecting the development and stability of the reaction product were carefully studied and optimized. The fluorescence intensity concentration plot is rectilinear over the range 50-450 ng mL(-1) with a lower detection limit (LOD) of 1.219 ng mL(-1) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 4.064 ng mL(-1). Selectivity was validated by subjecting stock solution of OSP to acidic, basic, oxidative, and thermal degradation. No interference was observed from excipients present in formulations. The developed method was successfully applied to determination of the drug in capsules. The mean % recovery (n = 6) was 100.08. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using a reported spectrophotometric method.