Drug Photodegradation Research Articles

Antioxidant effect of copper(II) on photosensitized lipid peroxidation

Unilamellar liposomes (LH) of phosphatidylcholine (PC), dispersed in phosphate buffer at pH 7 (PB), underwent lipid peroxidation and lysis with release of entrapped glucose-6-phosphate when irradiated with UVA light in the presence of 2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid (ketoprofen, KPF) or 2-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)propionic acid (naproxen, NAP), which were used as photosensitizers. Lipid photoperoxidation and consequent lysis were reduced when copper(II), up to 5 μM, was present in the irradiated samples. Suitable experiments were performed to evidence the species responsible for the lipid peroxidation, the copper effect on the drug photodegradation, and the mechanism of the copper antioxidant activity. The overall results suggest that the photoperoxidation was probably initiated by organic radicals obtained from the irradiation of KPF and NAP and the inhibition by copper could be attributed to its interaction with the peroxyl radicals of the drug and/or the liposomes, breaking the propagation of the radical chain.

Principles and practice of drug photodegradation studies

A review is presented of the underlying principles and experimental techniques used for the study of the photochemical degradation of pharmaceuticals. Examples are given to illustrate their application.

Photodegradation of Sulfa Drugs by Fluorescent Light

Thin layer chromatographic and liquid chromatographic procedures were used to show that sulfonamides containing a heterocyclic amine moiety and free N1 acidic hydrogen will photodegrade under fluorescent light in model systems containing riboflavin. The photodegradation product was characteristic of the drug. In-depth studies on sulfamethazine showed that the drug also photodegraded in the presence of lumichrome and flavin mononucleotide; the rate of photodegradation depended on the photosensitizer and its concentration. Crude polar liver extracts sensitized the photodegradation of sulfamethazine, but to a degree less than expected on the basis of reported riboflavin content of livers. It is recommended that procedures for quantitating sulfa drugs and their metabolites be performed in subdued lighting and/or that amber or low actinic vessels be used to prevent losses due to photochemical reactions.