# Eco-friendly spectrophotometric approach for the determination of anti-diabetic drugs in fixed-dose formulation together with metformin’s toxic impurity: comprehensive method assessment

## TL;DR

This paper introduces eco-friendly spectrophotometric methods to detect anti-diabetic drugs and a toxic impurity in pharmaceuticals, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional techniques.

## Contribution

The study presents two validated spectrophotometric methods for determining saxagliptin, metformin, and its impurity melamine in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner.

## Key findings

- The methods showed linearity for saxagliptin (5–90 µg/mL), metformin (1–40 µg/mL), and melamine (0.5–10 µg/mL).
- Validation confirmed accuracy, precision, selectivity, and specificity in accordance with ICH Q2(R1) guidelines.
- Green analytical chemistry tools demonstrated the environmental benefits of the proposed methods over conventional chromatography.

## Abstract

Environmentally benign and straightforward spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of saxagliptin (SAX), metformin (MET), and the pharmacopeial impurity of MET, melamine (MEL), in bulk powder and pharmaceutical formulations. These proposed approaches provide reliable, low-cost, and accessible alternatives to conventional chromatographic techniques, which often require complex instrumentation, extended analysis times, and significant solvent consumption. Two complementary spectrophotometric methods were established. Method A, the ratio-difference approach, utilized MEL as a divisor for the quantification of SAX, while SAX served as a divisor for determining MET and MEL. Method B, based on the first derivative of ratio spectra, applied MEL as a divisor under optimized conditions (scaling factor = 10, Δλ = 4 nm). However, MEL could not be quantified by Method B because its derivative ratio signals in the selected spectral region were too weak and overlapped extensively with those of SAX and MET, preventing the establishment of a reliable linear calibration curve for this impurity. The methods exhibited linearity over the ranges of 5–90 µg/mL for SAX, 1–40 µg/mL for MET, and 0.5–10 µg/mL for MEL. Validation in accordance with ICH Q2(R1) guidelines confirmed their accuracy, precision, selectivity, and specificity. The results obtained by the proposed methods were statistically compared with those of a reported RP‑HPLC method, confirming the reliability of the proposed procedures. The environmental impact was assessed using the principles of green analytical chemistry (GAC), which incorporates sustainability by promoting methods that limit hazardous reagents, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste while maintaining suitable analytical performance. Holistic evaluation tools such as the analytical greenness metric (AGREE), the green analytical procedure index (GAPI), the national environmental methods index (NEMI), the blue applicability grade index (BAGI), and the RGB 12 model enable simultaneous assessment of analytical quality, environmental impact, and practical applicability. These tools foster the development of “white” analytical chemistry and complement emerging indices like the environmental and practical performance index (EPPI).Overall, these spectrophotometric approaches represent sustainable, efficient, and accessible analytical alternatives for the routine quality control of Saxagliptin and Metformin in combined pharmaceutical formulations.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-38952-3.