Degradation studies and thermodynamic parameters in aqueous solution of chemotherapeutic agents: Daunorubicin, doxorubicin and vincristine

Abstract

The degradation of daunorubicin (DNR), doxorubicin (DXR) and vincristine (VCR) as chemotherapeutic agents was investigated under stress conditions such as acidic and alkaline media, oxidation, photolytic and heating. The degradation pathway determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Daunorubicin, doxorubicin and vincristine completely disintegrated in the basic medium. It has been determined that these drugs are resistant to heat. Daunorubicin and doxorubicin are resistant to UV light. However, vincristine is not very stable such as the other two compounds against UV light. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of daunorubicin, doxorubicin and vincristine were investigated in neutral media with different temperatures by electrochemical technique. Enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy parameters were investigated in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (PB) solution due to stability of these drugs at this pH. The studied chemotherapeutic agents showed endothermic process on glassy carbon-based electrode surface. Daunorubicin, doxorubicin and vincristine showed strongly adsorption process in room temperature. However, it showed diffusion property from electrode to solution with increasing the temperature values.