Fluorimetric determination of febuxostat in dosage forms and in real human plasma via Förster resonance energy transfer.

A rapid, simple, selective and precise fluorimetric method was developed and validated for determination of a selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor; febuxostat (FBX) in pharmaceutical formulations and in human plasma. The proposed method is based on quenching effect of FBX on the fluorescence intensity of terbium (Tb3+ ) through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from Tb3+ to FBX. The formed complex was measured at λex. 320 nm/λem. 490 nm against a reagent blank. Fluorescence intensity of Tb3+ was diminished when FBX was added. A linear relationship between the fluorescence quenching value of the formed complex ΔF=FTb3+-FFBX-Tb3+ and the concentration of FBX was investigated. The reaction conditions and the fluorescence spectral properties of the complex have been studied. The linearity range of the developed method was 1.0-16.0 μg/ml. The suggested method was applied successfully for the estimation of FBX in bulk powder, dosage forms and spiked plasma samples with excellent recoveries (96.79-98.89%). In addition, the developed method has been successfully applied for determination of FBX in real plasma samples collected from healthy volunteers with good recoveries (82.06-85.65%). All obtained results of the developed method were statistically analyzed and validated according to ICH (International Conference on Harmonization) guidelines.