Radiation Physics and Chemistry

Volume 75, Issue 9 , September 2006, Pages 1006-1017

doi:10.1016/j.radphyschem.2005.12.020 How to Cite or Link Using DOI (Opens New Window)

Final product analysis in the e-beam and gamma radiolysis of aqueous solutions of metoprolol tartrate

Catherine Slegers and Bernard Tilquin

Université Catholique de Louvain, Unité d’Analyse Chimique et Physico-chimique des Médicaments, CHAM 72.30, Avenue E. Mounier, 72, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium

Received 18 October 2005; accepted 7 December 2005. Available online 5 June 2006.

The radiostability of metoprolol tartrate aqueous solutions and the influence of the absorbed dose (0–50 kGy), dose rate (e-beam (EB) vs. gamma (?)) and radioprotectors (pharmaceutical excipients) are investigated by HPLC-UV analyses and through computer simulations. The use of radioprotecting excipients is more promising than an increase in the dose rate to lower the degradation of metoprolol tartrate aqueous solutions for applications such as radiosterilization. The decontamination of metoprolol tartrate from waste waters by EB processing appears highly feasible.

Keywords: Radiosterilization; Radioprotection; Drug aqueous solution; Drug degradation; Metoprolol tartrate