Abstract In this article, a novel Compact Circularly Polarized Antenna with a notched circular Electromagnetic Band Gap (NCEBG) structure is put forward. This proposed structure comprises of a truncated rectangular patch antenna having its ground plane defected by slots etched on it to achieve compactness and wide impedance bandwidth. Electromagnetic Band Gap structures have the attractive feature of in-phase reflection and stopband creation for surface waves, enabling the surface waves to be suppressed; this, in turn, leads to enhanced performance of the antenna when loaded with such structures. For enhancing the functioning of the antenna with regard to its impedance bandwidth, axial ratio bandwidth and gain, seven NCEBG's are etched on the substrate which surrounds the truncated patch. Additionally, the antenna proposed in this research exhibits compactness with a low profile of 0.473 λo x 0.473 λo x 0.039 λo (λo at center frequency of 7.46GHz represents free space wavelength). The measured outcomes of the prototype-fabricated antenna match well with the results of the simulation, showing 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth of 13.66% and an impedance bandwidth of 73.29% having a peak gain of 7.32dBi in the operating band. The improved functioning of the proposed antenna marks it as a favorable applicant for wireless communication techniques and thus finding its application in various ways.

Abstract The second generation of H1 antihistamines from the piperidine group are often used for treating allergic diseases due to their action on histaminic receptors, the primary mediator of allergy. Moreover, the antihistamines have anti-inflammatory action, mediated through platelet-activating factor blocking activity. A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed and validated for the determination of loratadine (LOR) and rupatadine (RUP) in tablets. The analyses were carried out using a fused silica capillary of 50.2 cm (40 cm effective length), 75 µm i.d. The background electrolyte was composed of boric acid 35 mmol/L, pH 2.5. Voltage of 20 kV, hydrodynamic injection of 3447.3 Pa for 3s, temperature at 25 ºC, and UV detection at 205 nm were applied. Electrophoretic separation was achieved at 1.8 and 2.8 min for RUP and LOR, respectively. The method was linear for both drugs in a range of 50.0 to 400.0 μg/mL (r>0.99). The limits of detection and quantification were 46.37 and 140.52 μg/mL, for LOR and 29.60 and 89.69 μg/mL for RUP respectively. The precision was less than 5.0 % for both drugs. The average recovery was approximately 100 %. The proposed novel method can significantly contribute to the rapid detection of counterfeit products and in quality control of drug products containing antihistamines.

ABSTRACT Abamectin is a drug with antiparasitic properties used in several pharmaceutical formulations. The objective of this research was to develop and validate a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for quantification of the two abamectin homologs (H2B1a and H2B1b) in gel formulation. This HPLC method was validated using a LichroCart(r) 100 RP-18 (125 x 4 mm, 5 µm) column. The mobile phase contained of acetonitrile and water (95:5 v/v) with 1% acetic acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL min-1 and UV detection was performed at 245 nm. Mobile phase solutions were prepared containing a nominal concentration 185.2 µg mL-1 H2B1a and 9.6 µg mL-1 H2B1b. The method displayed good linearity in the concentration range of 148.1 - 222.3 µg mL-1 and 7.7 - 11.5 µg mL-1, for H2B1a and H2B1b, respectively, with a correlation coefficient of (r)> 0.99 for both compounds, calculated by the least mean squares method. Detection limits (DLs) were 2.8 µg mL-1 and 1.2 µg mL-1 and quantitation limits (QLs) were 8.6 µg mL-1 and 3.8 µg mL-1, for H2B1a and H2B1b, respectively. The method is simple, economical and efficient for the quantitative determination of abamectin H2B1a and H2B1b homologs in pharmaceutical preparations.

Um método simples, rápido, econômico e confiável foi desenvolvido empregando a cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para a determinação simultânea de etinilestradiol e drospirenona em comprimidos revestidos. O método foi realizado utilizando coluna LiChroCART® 100RP (125 x 4 mm d.i., 5 µm), a fase móvel constituída de acetonitrila:água, 50:50 (v/v) com vazão de 1,0 mL.min-1. A detecção foi realizada empregando fluorescência em λex= 280 nm e λem= 310 nm para o etinilestradiol e na região de UV em 200 nm para a drospirenona. O etinilestradiol e a drospirenona tiveram tempo de retenção de 4,0 e 5,7 min, respectivamente. O método foi validado de acordo com as diretrizes da USP 34. O método proposto apresentou vantagens sobre os relatados na literatura e pode ser considerado adequado para o controle de qualidade do etinilestradiol e da drospirenona em comprimidos revestidos.

A simple, rapid, economical and reliable high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed and successfully applied in simultaneous determination of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone in coated tablets. The HPLC method was performed on a LiChroCART® 100RP column (125x4 mm i.d., 5 µm) with acetonitrile:water 50:50 (v/v) as mobile phase, pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min-1. The fluorescence detection for ethinyl estradiol was made at λex= 280 nm and λem= 310 nm and a UV detection for drospirenone was made at 200 nm. The elution time for ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone were 4.0 and 5.7 min, respectively. The method was validated in accordance to USP 34 guidelines. The proposed HPLC method presented advantages over reported methods and is suitable for quality control assays of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone in coated tablets.

The objective of this research was to develop and validate an alternative analytical method for quantitative determination of levofloxacin in tablets and injection preparations. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range from 3.0 to 8.0 μg mL-1. The relative standard deviation was below 1.0% for both formulations and average recovery was 101.42 ± 0.45% and 100.34 ± 0.85% for tablets and injection formulations, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.08 and 0.25 μg mL-1, respectively. It was concluded that the developed method is suitable for the quality control of levofloxacin in pharmaceuticals formulations.

Tenoxicam, um análogo de piroxicam, é um AINE (Antiinflamatório Não-Esteróide). ë usado no tratamento sintomático de doenças musculoesqueléticas das juntas, tais como osteoartrite e artrite reumatóide, e, também, no tratamento de danos dos tecidos moles. Sua determinação quantitativa em formulações farmacêuticas é importante para garantir os efeitos terapêuticos desejados. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi desenvolver, validar e comparar métodos espectrofotométrico e cromatográfico na determinação quantitativa de tenoxicam em comprimidos. Neste trabalho, comprimidos contendo 20,0 mg de tenoxicam de diferentes procedências foram analisados. O método espectrofotométrico foi validado utilizando-se 0,1 mol/L de NaOH como solvente e se obteve sinal a 368 nm. O método por CLAE foi validado utilizando-se coluna Synergi Hydri-RP® C18 (250x4,6 nm, 4µm). A fase móvel constitui-se de metanol-água (61:39 v/v), com pH ajustado para 2,5 com ácido fórmico, e velocidade de fluxo de 1,0 mL/minuto. A detecção por UV foi efetuada a 375 nm. Todas as análises foram realizadas com temperatura de coluna a 25 ºC ± 1. As curvas de calibração foram lineares na faixa de concentração de 4,0 a 24,0 µg/mL, comcoeficiente de correlação melhor que 0,9999. O limite de detecção (LD) e o limite de quantificação (LQ) foram 0,25 µg/mL e 0,90 µg/mL e 1,20 µg/mL por CLAE, respectivamente. A precisão intra e inter-dia, expressa como RSD, foi abaixo de 2% para ambos os métodos. A média de recuperação do tenoxicam ficou na faixa de 98,5 a 101,25% para o método de UV, e 99,01 a 101,93, para a CLAE. Os métodos de UV e de CLAE mostraram-se rápidos, precisos e exatos. Estatisticamente, não se observou diferença significativa entre os métodos espectrofotométricos (UV) e CLAE.

Tenoxicam, a piroxicam analogue, is an NSAID (Non-Steroid Antinflamatory Drug). It is used in the symptomatic management of musculoskeletal and joint disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and also in the short-term management of soft-tissue injury. Its quantitative determination in pharmaceutical formulations is important to guarantee the desired therapeutic effects. The objective of this research was to develop, validate and compare spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods in the quantitative determination of tenoxicam in tablet preparations. In this work, tablets containing 20.0 mg of tenoxicam from different origins were analyzed. The spectrophotometric method was validated using 0.1 mol/L NaOH as solvent and a signal at 368 nm was taken. The HPLC method was validated using Synergi Hydro-RP® C18 column (250x4.6 mm, 4 µm). The mobile phase was constituted of methanol-water (61:39 v/v) with pH adjusted to 2.5 with formic acid, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. UV detection was made at 375 nm. All analyses were performed with a column temperature of 25 °C ± 1. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range from 4.0-24.0 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient better than 0.9999. The detection limit (DL) and quantitation limit (QL) were 0.25 µg/mL and 0.90 µg/mL for UV method and 0.35 µg/mL and 1.20 µg/mL for HPLC method respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision expressed as RSD were below 2% for both methods. The mean recovery of tenoxicam was found to be in the range of 98.5-101.25% for UV method and 99.01-101.93% for HPLC method. The UV and HPLC methods were found to be rapid, precise and accurate. Statistically there was no significant difference between proposed UV spectrophotometric and HPLC methods.

A espectrofotometria derivada no UV foi usada para a determinação quantitativa de hidroquinona em cremes. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar o melhor comprimento de onda e a ordem da derivada, bem como validar o método proposto. Os resultados das curvas analíticas foram analisados estatisticamente pelo método dos mínimos quadrados no intervalo de 10,0 a 26,0 µg/mL, na primeira, segunda, terceira e quarta ordens da derivada. As determinações quantitativas foram realizadas utilizando os métodos "zero-crossing (Z-C)" e zero-pico (Z-P). O método proposto é simples, de baixo custo e fornece resultados confiáveis podendo ser usado no controle de qualidade de cremes contendo hidroquinona como substância ativa.

UV derivative spectrophotometry was used for quantitative determination of hydroquinone in creams. The aim of this work was to investigate optimum wavelength and order of derivative, and to validate the proposed spectrophotometric method. The results of standard curves were calculated and statistically analyzed through the least squares method in the interval from 10.0 to 26.0 µg/mL, in the first, second, third and fourth order derivatives. The quantitative determination was carried out by using the zero-crossing (Z-C) and zero-peak (Z-P) methods. The proposed method is simple, of low cost and provides reliable results in order to be used in quality control of creams containing hydroquinone as active substance.

A maioria dos agentes terapêuticos, freqüentemente prescritos, é formulada e comercializada sob a forma racêmica, embora, para alguns deles, já tenha sido demonstrado que os efeitos farmacológicos e/ou tóxicos estejam relacionados apenas a um dos enantiômeros. Além disso, é conhecido o fato de que os enantiômeros podem apresentar perfis farmacocinéticos e farmacodinâmicos diferentes. Neste trabalho foram selecionados compostos que fazem parte de um importante grupo de fármacos muito empregados na terapêutica. São fármacos freqüentemente prescritos em doenças cardiovasculares. As separações enantioméricas diretas do atenolol, betaxolol, metoprolol e nadolol foram obtidas utilizando-se fase estacionária quiral do tipo carbamato de celulose tris-3,5-dimetilfenil, Chiralcel OD®, (250 x 4.6 mm, 10 µm). Os enantiômeros do pindolol foram separados com fase estacionária quiral derivada de dinitrobenzoil (DNB), a-Burke 2®, (250 x 4.6 mm, 10 µm). Os fármacos foram cromatografados à temperatura ambiente, com volume de injeção de 20 µL. A detecção foi efetuada em 276 nm exceto para o pindolol, que foi detectado em 220 nm. Os métodos propostos neste trabalho empregando CLAE-FEQs oferecem vantagens sobre as técnicas clássicas de separação de enantiômeros e podem ser empregados na análise quantitativa dos enantiômeros em preparações farmacêuticas e amostras biológicas.

The majority of frequently prescribed therapeutic agents are formulated and commercialized in the racemic form, even though, for some of them, it has already been demonstrated that the pharmacological and/or toxicological effects are associated only with one of the enantiomers. Moreover, it is well known that these antipodes can present different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles. In this work we selected drugs that belong to an important group of pharmaceuticals, frequently prescribed in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. The direct enantiomeric separations of atenolol, betaxolol, metoprolol and nadolol were obtained using the chiral stationary phase cellulose tris-3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate, Chiralcel OD® (250 x 4,6 mm, 10 µm). The enantiomers of pindolol were separated with the chiral stationary phase derived from dinitro-benzoyl (DNB) (S, S) alpha-Burke 2® (250x4.6 mm, 10 µm). The drugs were chromatographed at room temperature, with injection volumes of 20 µL. The detention was made at 276 nm except for pindolol, which was detected at 220 nm. The proposed methods in this work using HPLC-CSP offer advantages over contemporaneous techniques of enantiomeric separation, being rapid and efficient, and can be used in the simultaneous quantitative analysis of referred enantiomers in pharmaceutical preparations and biological samples.

Zidovudine (AZT) and stavudine (D4T) are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors extensively used in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. In order to evaluate the quality of these drugs, two stability indicating HPLC methods were developed. The validated methods were applied in quantitative determination of AZT, D4T and their induced degradation products in capsule preparations. The stability studies were conducted at controlled temperature and relative humidity conditions based on the International Conference on Harmonization stability studies protocol for Zone IV areas. Easy sample preparation and low-cost make these methods especially useful for quality control and stability studies of AZT and D4T in drug products.

Foram desenvolvidos e padronizados métodos por espectrofotometria no ultravioleta (UV) por derivada de primeira ordem (Método I) e cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) (Método II) para a determinação quantitativa de cetoconazol em formulações farmacêuticas sob a forma de emulsão obtida no comércio e formulada em laboratório. A espectrofotometria no UV por derivada de primeira ordem foi padronizada usando-se o método do zero pico a 257 nm, utilizando metanol como solvente. A cromatografia líquida foi realizada empregando-se uma coluna LiChrospher® 100 RP-18 (5 µm). A fase móvel utilizada foi a mistura de trietilamina em metanol (1:500) e solução de acetato de amônio em água (1:200) na proporção de 75:25 v/v, com vazão de 1 mL/min e detecção no UV de 225 nm. O tempo de retenção do cetoconazol foi de 3,9 min e do terconazol de 5,9 min, este último utilizado com padrão interno. As curvas analíticas mostraram linearidade dentro das concentrações de 5,0 a 30,0 µg/mL para o Método I e 20,0 a 80,0 µg/mL para o Método II, com coeficientes de correlação linear de 0,9997 e 0,9981, respectivamente.O desvio padrão relativo (DPR) foi de 0,56% e 0,41% para a amostra simulada e comercial, respectivamente, empregando-se o Método I. Para o Método II, os valores foram de 2,13% e 1,25%, respectivamente. A porcentagem de recuperação foi de 100,1% para o Método I e 100,4% para o Método II. Os excipientes não interferiram nas análises. Os resultados mostraram que os dois métodos podem ser usados para a determinação rápida de cetoconazol em formulações de emulsões com precisão, exatidão e especificidade.

First-derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometric (Method I) and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (Method II) methods were developed. The validated methods were applied for quantitative determination of ketoconazole in commercial and simulated emulsion formulations. Quantitative first-derivative UV spectrophotometric determinations were made using the zero-crossing method at 257 nm, with methanol as background solvent. Liquid chromatographic analysis was carried out on a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18 (5µm) column. A mixture of triethylamine in methanol (1:500 v/v) and 0.5% ammonium acetate solution (75:25 v/v) was used as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with UV detection at 225 nm. The retention time of ketoconazole and terconazole were 3.9 min and 5.9 min, respectively, the later being used as internal standard. Analytical curves were linear within a concentration range from 5.0 to 30.0 µg/mL for Method I and 20.0 to 80.0 µg/mL for Method II, with correlation coefficients of 0.9997 and 0.9981, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.56% and 0.41% for simulated and commercial emulsion formulations, respectively, using Method I. The corresponding values were 2.13% and 1.25%, respectively, using Method II. The percentage recoveries were above 100% for both methods. The excipients did not interfere in the analysis. The results showed that either method can be used for rapid ketoconazole determination in pharmaceutical emulsions with precision, accuracy and specificity.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi desenvolver e validar um método analítico para a determinação quantitativa do ciprofloxacino (CIP) e do norfloxacino (NOR) em preparações farmacêuticas. Um método cromatográfico simples e rápido foi desenvolvido e validado para a determinação quantitativa de dois antibióticos fluoroquinolônicos em comprimidos e injetáveis. As quinolonas foram analisadas empregando-se uma coluna RP-18, LiChrospher® 100 (125 x 4 mm, 5µm) e fase móvel constituída por água:acetonitrila:trietilamina (80:20:0.3 v/v/v). O pH da mistura final foi ajustado a 3,3 com ácido fosfórico. A vazão da fase móvel foi de 1,0 mL/min e a detecção em UV a 279 nm. As análises foram realizadas à temperatura ambiente (24±2 ºC). O CIP e o NOR eluíram em menos de 5 min. As curvas de calibração foram lineares (r > 0.9999) na faixa de concentração entre 4,0 e 24,0 µg/mL. O desvio padrão relativo (RSD) foi < 1,0% e a recuperação média foi de 101,85%.

The objective of this research was to develop and validate an analytical method for quantitative determination of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and norfloxacin (NOR) in pharmaceutical preparations. A simple and rapid chromatographic method was developed and validated for quantitative determination of two fluoroquinolone antibiotics in tablets and injection preparations. The quinolones were analyzed by using a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18 column (5 µm, 125 x 4 mm) and a mobile phase consisted of water:acetonitrile:triethylamine (80:20:0.3 v/v/v). The pH of final mixture was adjusted to 3.3 with phosphoric acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and UV detection was made at 279 nm. The analyses were performed at room temperature (24 ± 2 ºC). CIP and NOR were eluted within 5 min. The calibration curves were linear (r > 0.9999) over a concentration range from 4.0 to 24.0 µg/mL. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was < 1.0% and the mean recovery was 101.85%.

Nos "peelings" químicos utilizam-se formulações esfoliantes, empregadas na terapêutica de queratoses actínicas, rugas, discromias pigmentares, acne vulgar e rosácea. Na presente pesquisa, foram empregadas como amostras, a solução de Jessner (SJ) composta por resorcinol (RS) 14%, ácido salicílico (AS) 14% e ácido láctico (AL) 14% em solução alcoólica e géis de AS a 20% e RS a 30%. As técnicas utilizadas foram a espectrofotometria derivada no UV de primeira e segunda ordens em etanol absoluto para o AS e RS, respectivamente na SJ, e a espectrofotometria derivada no UV de primeira ordem em ácido sulfúrico 0,1 N para o AS e RS nos géis. Para o AS na SJ, o coeficiente de correlação (r) foi de 0,9999, a precisão expressa pela média dos desvios padrão relativos (DPR) de 0,68% e a exatidão expressa pela recuperação média de 100,5%. Para o RS na SJ o r foi de 0,9999, a média dos DPR de 0,83% e a recuperação média de 100,3%. No gel de AS, o r foi de 0,9999, a média dos DPR de 0,28 e a recuperação média de 99,3%. No gel de RS, o r foi de 0,9998, a média dos DPR de 0,34 e a recuperação média de 99,9%.

Chemical peeling is obtained with exfoliating formulations and is used in the treatment of actinic keratosis, wrinkles, dyschromies, acne vulgaris and rosacea acne. In this research we selected the Jessner Solution (JS), a pharmaceutical preparation composed of resorcinol (RS) (14%), salicylic acid (SA) (14%) and lactic acid (LA) (14%) in alcoholic solution and two gel samples composed of RS (30%) and SA (20%), respectively. First and second derivative UV spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for determination of SA and RS, respectively in JS alcoholic solution, ethanol was used as background. A first derivative UV spectrophotometric method was developed for determination of these active substances in gel samples using 0.1N sulfuric acid as background. For SA in the JS, the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9999, the precision expressed by the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.68% and the accuracy expressed by the average percent recovery of 100.5%. For RS in the JS, the r was 0.9999, the RSD of 0.83% and average recovery of 100.3%. In the gel of SA r was 0.9999, the mean RSD was 0.28% and average recovery of 99.3%. In the gel of RS the r was 0.9998, mean RSD was 0.34% and average recovery of 99.9%.