Green and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of two cephalosporins in dosage forms

Using two green and sensitive spectrofluorimetric methods, we quantified two cephalosporins, cefepime (CFM) and cefazolin (CFZ), in raw and pharmaceutical formulations. The first method is based on the reaction between CFM and fluorescamine (borate buffer, pH 8), which yields a highly fluorescent product. After excitation at 384 nm, the fluorescent product emits light at 484 nm. At concentration ranges from 12.0 to 120.0 ng ml(−1), the relative fluorescence intensity/concentration curve was linear with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.46 ng ml(−1). The second method relied on measuring the CFZ quenching action on acriflavine fluorescence through formation of an ion-associate complex using Britton–Robinson buffer at pH 8. We measured acriflavine fluorescence at 505 nm after excitation at 265 nm. The decrease in acriflavine fluorescence intensity was CFZ concentration-dependent. Using this method, we quantified CFZ in concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 µg ml(−1) with a LOQ of 0.48 µg ml(−1). We studied and optimized the factors influencing reaction product formation. Moreover, we adapted our methods to the investigation of the mentioned drugs in raw and pharmaceutical formulations with greatly satisfying results. We statistically validated our methods according to International Council on Harmonisation Guidelines. The obtained results were consistent with those obtained with the official high-performance liquid chromatography methods.