SPECTROFLUOROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF CEFUROXIME IN PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS

A fluorimetric method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of cefuroxime, based upon the formation of a fluorescent derivative f ormed by alkaline hydrolysis with 1.0 M sodium hydroxide and heating a t 100-degrees-C for 60 min. The fluorescent product gave excitation an d emission maxima at 380 and 436 nm, respectively. The method was perf ormed in aqueous solution adjusted to pH 10.5 by addition of phosphate buffer solution. The calibration curve was found to be linear in the range of concentrations 0.050-1.70 mug ml-1. The lower limit of detect ion was 1.0 X 10(-2) mug ml-1. The method was applied to authentic pha rmaceutical preparations containing cefuroxime sodium or cefuroxime ax etil, the 1-(acetyloxy) ethyl ester of the drug, and was found to be s atisfactory. Cefuroxime sodium was also determined in physiological so lutions used to prepare intravenous infusions of this antibiotic.