Study of nonvolatile degradation compounds produced by
radiosterilization of cefotaxime
N. Barbarin and B. Tilquin
Université catholique de Louvain, Unité d’Analyse
Chimique et Physico-chimique des Médicaments, UCL 72.30. Av. E.
Mounier, 72, B-1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
The effects of radiosterilization on the purity profile of cefotaxime
were evaluated by a liquid chromatography-diode array method. Numerous
new radiolytic compounds were detected in very small amount. They were
quantified and it appeared that none was present above the level of
0.1% of the main compound and the total amount was only of 0.72%.
Despite the low quantities present, some radiolytic compounds had UV
spectra which could justify the apparition of a yellow coloration
detected after irradiation. Others had UV spectra similar to that of
cefotaxime, suggesting similarity in the molecular structures. Finally,
some mechanisms of formation were proposed for four radiolytic
compounds which were identified by mass spectrometry in a former study.
Author Keywords: Radiosterilization; Cefotaxime; Color modification;
HPLC; Lactam; Radiolytic compounds