Chimie Médicinale pages 15-22

Drug radiosterilization: Parameters influencing the selction of the irradiation dose

Aubert Maquille
Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, CHAM

Abstract
Radiosterilization is now being recognized as an attractive method for drug sterilization. The irradiation dose must be
sufficient to reach sterility, taking into account the sensivity of microorganisms contaminating the product, but schould
not be too high in order to avoid excessive degradation of the pharmaceutical compound. This review summarizes the
current guidelines concerning the selection of the irradiation dose and the effects of ionizing radiation on microorganism
as wel as the mechanisms leading to their radioresistance. The radioresistance of microorganisms as a function of the
environmental conditions is also critically reviewed.