A note on the effect of gamma-rays on cefamandole and oxacillin

Free radicals in irradiated drugs: an EPR study

Exposure of dry powder forms of the drugs nitrendipine, nifedipine, felodipine, and nimodipine to gamma-radiation results in the formation of free radicals detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The four structurally related drugs show qualitatively identical EPR spectral features in terms of g-values, the qualitative descriptive parameter. These radicals are very stable, surviving long periods of time in excess of 9 months and possibly beyond conventional shelf-life of the drugs. The residual radical population is high enough to be detectable after long storage. Administration of such radiation-treated drugs may present patients with quantities of free radicals and possibilities of secondary cell damage.

A review of the effects of gamma radiation on pharmaceutical materials

This review on the radiation effects on pharmaceutical materials, with a view to their sterilization by gamma radiation, attempts to cover all the pertinent literature published over the period 1975 to 1992.