Quantification of losartan potassium polymorphs using powder X-ray diffraction
Abstract Background Losartan potassium, a common antihypertensive drug on the market, has multiple polymorphs, of which form I is used as a pharmaceutical crystal form. Form I can be partially converted to form III under some circumstances. The quantification of losartan potassium polymorphs is important to control the quality of pharmaceuticals. Objective To establish a method to determine the contents of losartan potassium polymorphs. Methods Pure form I and form III of losartan potassium were obtained by recrystallization, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. A powder X-ray diffraction method was developed to characterize form I and form III of losartan potassium. Peak area and weight percentage were used to establish calibration curve. Results The calibration curve was linear over the range of 1–50% (w/w), using the characteristic peak area ratio of form I at 11.13° 2θ and form III at 5.64° 2θ as the quantitative parameter. The precisions were excellent between 0.6–4.9%, and the limit of quantification (LoQ) was 2.02% (w/w). Conclusions This PXRD method can be used to analyze mixtures of losartan potassium polymorphs (forms I and III) quantitatively and control the quality of bulk drug. Highlights New method of quantifying the amount of form III in polymorphic forms of LP using data obtained by PXRD. Consistent, sensitive and accurate.