Evaluation and Measurement of Potential Genotoxic Impurities in Empagliflozin Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Using Tandem Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer, Accompanied by an Advanced Greenness Assessment

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Authors: Ramya Chilukuri, Kousrali Sayyad, Magapu Ravi Kumar, Y.P. Reddy, Rathnakar Nathi, Sreedhar Gundekari, Mohan Varkolu
Cited by: 5
References: 27

Abstract

ABSTRACT Empagliflozin (EPG) is a glycemic control antidiabetic agent used to in patients with Type 2 diabetes and in individuals with established heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. In this study, four potential genotoxic impurities alkyl sulfonate esters, such as methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), isopropyl methanesulfonate (IPMS), and (2‐chloro‐5‐iodophenyl)(4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl)methanone, were identified by reviewing the synthetic pathway of EPG. At present, no appropriate techniques have been created for the threshold of toxicological concern level of isolation and quantification of these four contaminations in EPG. Two ionization techniques, such as atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), were employed for MMS, EMS, and IPMS (Method 1), whereas electrospray ionization (ESI) was used for the (2‐chloro‐5‐iodophenyl)(4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl)methanone impurity (Method 2) to evaluate their analytical suitability. In APCI positive‐ion mode, the three alkyl sulfonate esters produced stable and selective ion‐monitoring (SIM) mass transitions as [M + NH 4 ] + . In contrast, (2‐chloro‐5‐iodophenyl)(4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl)methanone showed superior sensitivity under ESI conditions in positive‐polarity multiple reaction monitoring mode. The developed methods are both efficient and practical for the detection and quantification of these potential genotoxic impurities, thereby supporting the safe use of EPG. Validation results demonstrated satisfactory precision, with acceptable relative standard deviations, along with established limits of detection and quantification at 2 and 6 ppm, respectively, relative to the sample concentration. The environmental sustainability of both methods was evaluated using commonly applied greenness assessment tools, and the results confirmed that the procedures are more eco‐friendly compared to conventional approaches.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Analytical Methods in Pharmaceuticals Biological Research and Disease Studies Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment

Publication details

Journal / source
Separation Science Plus
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
9
Issue
4
Publication date
1 April 2026
Language
EN