Development of a Single Ion Pair HPLC Method for Analysis of Terbinafine, Ofloxacin, Ornidazole, Clobetasol, and Two Preservatives in a Cream Formulation: Application to In Vitro Drug Release in Topical Simulated Media-Phosphate Buffer Through Rat Skin.

Present work reports an HPLC method with UV detection for quantification of terbinafine, ofloxacin, ornidazole, and clobetasol in a cream formulation along with two preservatives methyl and propyl paraben. The chromatographic separation and quantification was achieved by an octyl bonded column and a gradient elution program involving an ion-pairing reagent, hexanesulfonic acid (0.2%, pH modified to 2.7 using orthophosphoric acid) and acetonitrile. The method was simple and devoid of buffer salts and therefore advantageous for system and column life. The three step gradient program was initiated with 30% (v/v) acetonitrile for the first 5 min and ramped linearly to 60% in the next 7 min. The mobile phase remained constant for the next 11 min and then concluded at 30% (v/v) of acetonitrile. Flow rate throughout was 0.8 mL/min, and all the signals were monitored at 243 nm. The method was applied for assay of a cream formulation and its in vitro permeation studies to determine the penetration profile of the four drugs and two preservatives. A marketed cream formulation was selected for the permeation study, which was carried out using a diffusion cell consisting of topical simulated media, phosphate buffer (pH=6.8) solution containing 1% sodium lauryl sulfate as a receiver medium.