Development and validation of analytical methods for selective determination of albuterol and budesonide in Airsupra inhalation aerosol using spectrophotometry

AbstractAirsupra inhalation aerosol is a recently approved FDA medication that combines albuterol and budesonide for treating or preventing bronchoconstriction and lowering the risk of relapses in asthma patients who are 18 years of age and older. To selectively determine albuterol and budesonide in both pure and pharmaceutical dosage forms, two analytical methods were developed: the zero-order absorption method and the dual-wavelength method. Even though the two drugs absorption spectra overlapped, the distinctive peak of budesonide at the zero absorbance point of albuterol, 245 nm, allowed for direct detection of budesonide in the combination using the zero-order absorption method. The mathematical dual-wavelength method, on the other hand, allowed for the measurement of both albuterol and budesonide by choosing two wavelengths for each drug in such a way that the absorbance difference for the second drug was zero. Budesonide exhibited comparable absorbance values at wavelengths 227 and 261.40 nm; hence, these two wavelengths were utilized to identify albuterol; similarly, 221.40 and 231.20 nm were chosen to determine budesonide in their binary mixes. The methods were validated according to the ICH guideline for validation of analytical procedures Q2(R1) and demonstrated excellent linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and selectivity for determining both drugs in synthetic mixed solutions and pharmaceutical formulations. The availability of these analytical methods would be valuable for the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities for quality control and assessment of pharmaceutical formulations containing albuterol and budesonide.