Stability indicating method for the analysis of nicotine in transdermal drug delivery systems by means of gas chromatography

The delivery of drugs through human skin using transdermal drug delivery (T DD) systems has become an established technology. A popular drug with that dosage form is nicotine for smoking cessation. A stability indicating metho d for the analysis of nicotine TDDs using gas chromatography (GC) with post -column effluent splitting to a flame ionization detector (FID) and a nitro gen-phosphorus detector (NPD) is described. FID detection gave reliable res ults with low day-to-day variability. The detector is relatively simple to operate. NPD detection offered enhanced sensitivity and specificity. The co mbination of both detectors resulted in a rugged method for content analysi s with high sensitivity for detection of degradation products at low concen tration levels. Despite a relatively simple sample preparation procedure no matrix interferences were observed.