Metronidazole citrate ester as the new prodrug of metronidazole

Abstract

Many attempts have been made since 1960th to obtain ester prodrugs of metronidazole active moiety to be used for parenteral forms, with the same action against microorganisms. Until now there is not any ester prodrug marketed for this route of administration. The synthesis from metronidazole and citric acid of new ester prodrug of metronidazole with citric acid in a form of disodium salt and the way of purification were described. The structure of sodium metronidazole citrate was elucidated with IR, MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. Also impurities present in this ester were identified using 1H NMR technique. Additionally, the solubility in water was measured as well as pH of 10% (w/w) aqueous solution, and both values indicated that there is a possibility to obtain concentrated solutions for injection of neutral pH, even without need of buffering. Finally, the Ames assay using six tester strains S. typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and E. coli uvrA, [pKM101] shown weak genotoxic potential, comparable with metronidazole.

Keywords

• Ames assay
• Ester of metronidazole
• Impurity profile
• Metronidazole citrate disodium
• Metronidazole prodrug