Simultaneous separation of atovaquone,proguanil and its metabolites on a mixed mode high-performance liquid chromatographic column

摘要

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous separation of the components in the antimalarial combination drug Malarone? with UV detection is described. An HPLC system using a mixed mode columncomposed of 50% C_(18) phase and 50% strong cation-exchanger has been optimised for the simultaneous separation of atovaquone, proguanil and its two main metabolites. The mobile phase was optimised for factors such as pH, counter ion concentraticentration and acetonitrile. Elimination of interferences from other antimalarial drugs was achieved by adding sodium perchlorate to the mobile phase. With a mobile phase of acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (60:40, v/v) pH 6.8, 50.7 mmol l~(-1) K~+ and 10 mmol F1 NaClO4, separation was achieved within a run time shorter than 17 min.