Degradation study of Doxycycline in bulk and formulation by UV-Visible spectrophotometry

Introduction: Forced degradation is a process that involves degradation of drug products and drug substances at condition more severe than accelerated conditions and thus generates degradation products that can be studied to determine the stability of the molecule.
Aim and objective: To investigate the forced degradation study for the determination of degradation of Doxycycline by UV-Visible spectrophotometric method.
Methods: Doxycycline sample and standard were exposed to different stress conditions (hydrolytic and oxidative degradation). Both standard drug and marketed formulations were used for the degradation study. The amount of percentage degradation of each standard and samples were calculated by taking absorbances at their λmax with the help of UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Forced degradation of drug substance was done by exposing to acidic, basic and to medium of hydrogen peroxide. The degradation results of each condition were compared with that of standard. This method can be used successfully for studying the stress degradation factors. Because this method is less time consuming and simple and cost effective also.
Results: Forced degradation of selected drugs performed using HCl, NaOH and H2O2. Degraded sample were quantified by UV visible spectroscopy. In all the methods used in degradation study, sample undergoes greater degradation compared with that of standard. Among the degradation conditions used in the study it is found that NaOH produce more degradation.