D-optimal design as a useful tool response surface methodology for the optimization of signals from synchronous fluorescence prior to simultaneous determination of avanafil and tadalafil.

Abstract A rapid, smart and sensitive first derivative spectrofluorimetric method has been carried out for the simultaneous estimation of avanafil and tadalafil either in their pure form, tablet dosage form or spiked human plasma. The measurements of normal emission spectra or synchronous fluorescence intensity of both drugs show severe overlap which hindered their determination using normal fluorescence or synchronous intensity. Therefore, a highly sensitive first derivative synchronous fluorescence procedure was used to resolve this overlap. The method is based upon measurement of the amplitude of the first derivative of synchronous fluorescence intensity of both drugs at Δλ = 70 nm and at suitable wavelength of 396 nm and 364 nm for avanafil and tadalafil, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the linear determination ranges are 50–1800 and 5–400 ng mL−1 with a detection limit of 12.93 and 1.46 ng mL−1 for avanafil and tadalafil, respectively. A response surface methodology was used for optimization using D-optimal design which can be used for determination of the exact optimum parameters specifically designed for this method. In addition; it is a good way to graphically clarify the relationship between various experimental variables and the synchronous fluorescence intensity.