Bacitracin B1

10 lots of bacitracin collected from the European market were studied applying the European Pharmacopoeia HPLC method, and the results were compared to the findings of an orthogonal micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method. The latter method exhibited a far higher selectivity, resulting in a baseline separation of all bacitracin components, which could not be achieved with HPLC. Considering the contents of bacitracin A, B1, and B3, the lots could be organised into 2 groups. Due to high amounts of bacitracin B1 and B3, one lot did not fit into either group. All lots met the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia.

The development of isocratic and gradient stability indicating HPLC methods for bacitracin (Bc) and bacitracin zinc (BcZn), which are complex mixture of several related polypeptides, is described. The methods are based on a new type of reversed phase (RP-18e) monolithic silicagel stationary phase. Chromatographic experimental conditions used on conventional column with microparticles were adopted and further modified to achieve efficient separation of Bc. The influence of methanol and acetonitrile in combination with phosphate buffer was thoroughly studied to separate microbiologically active components A, B1, B2, B3 and their oxidative degradation products F, H1, H2 and H3. Chromatographic peaks of all the mentioned components were identified using compounds isolated previously by preparative HPLC. Applying isocratic or gradient approach, highly efficient separation was achieved together with drastically reduced analysis times (ca. 6 min) compared to all published HPLC methods up to date. With thus developed HPLC methods, it is possible to evaluate not only the main degradation product F, but for the first time also several other oxidative degradation products of Bc (H1, H2 and H3). Such methods are also suitable for routine quality control and stability testing. Validation of both isocratic and gradient methods confirmed the selectivity and efficiency comparable to that on microparticulate columns, yet contrary to conventional columns with highly reduced analysis time.

A stability indicating HPLC assay for bacitracin has been developed and validated. The assay is based on a gradient elution, reversed phase column and UV diode array detection. On the basis of our previous analytical work several additional systematic HPLC tests for optimization of analytical method were performed. In order to achieve the highest selectivity of HPLC method, tests were conducted with extremely complex samples -- zinc bacitracin feed grade as food additive for animals. The influence of pH of mobile phase and type of columns on chromatographic separation of active (A, B(1) and B(2)) and inactive (F) polypeptide components of bacitracin were investigated in detail. It was found also that the peak B(1) comprises three and the peak F two subunits -- probably isomers. The obtained analytical procedure proved to be very selective and effective for the simultaneous determination of active polypeptide A, B(1) and B(2), impurities, known and unknown degradation products and ballast material.