Analytical Method Development for 19 Alkyl Halides as Potential Genotoxic Impurities by Analytical Quality by Design

Major issues in the pharmaceutical industry involve efficient risk management and control strategies of potential genotoxic impurities (PGIs). As a result, the development of an appropriate method to control these impurities is required. An optimally sensitive and simultaneous analytical method using gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) was developed for 19 alkyl halides determined to be PGIs. These 19 alkyl halides were selected from 144 alkyl halides through an in silico study utilizing quantitative structure-activity relationship (Q-SAR) approaches via expert knowledge rule-based software and statistical-based software. The analytical quality by design (QbD) approach was adopted for the development of a sensitive and robust analytical method for PGIs. A limited number of literature studies have reviewed the analytical QbD approach in the PGI method development using GC-MS as the analytical instrument. A GC equipped with a single quadrupole mass spectrometry detector (MSD) and VF-624 ms capillary column was used. The developed method was validated in terms of specificity, the limit of detection, quantitation, linearity, accuracy, and precision, according to the ICH Q2 guideline.

Automated summary

This study developed a new method to control potential genotoxic impurities in the pharmaceutical industry. The method utilized gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector and employed expert knowledge and statistical software for selection and optimization. The method was validated and proved to accurately detect and quantify the target impurities.