Analytical detection and method development of anticancer drug Gemcitabine HCl using gold nanoparticles

A simple, rapid, cost effective and extractive UV spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of Gemcitabine HCl (GMCT) in bulk drug and pharmaceutical formulation. It was based on UV spectrophotometric measurements in which the drug reacts with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and changes the original colour of AuNP and forms a dark blue coloured solution which exhibits absorption maximum at 688 nm. The apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity coefficient were found to be 3.95 × 10−5 l mol−1 cm−1 and 0.060 μg cm−2 respectively. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 2.0–40 μg ml−1. This method was tested and validated for various parameters according to ICH guidelines. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of GMCT in pharmaceutical formulation (parental formulation). The results demonstrated that the procedure is accurate, precise and reproducible (relative standard deviation <2%). As it is simple, cheap and less time consuming, it can be suitably applied for the estimation of GMCT in dosage forms.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The purpose is to develop simple, rapid and fast method. ► UV spectrophotometric method very cost effective than any chromatographic method. ► AuNps was used as the detection probe for the estimation of Gemcitabine HCl. ► Electrostatic interaction was confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).