Gamma radiation, sterilization

Medical and health-care related appHcations consume about 21,000 t of polycarbonate aimuaHy. Polycarbonate is popular because of its clarity, impact strength, and low level of extractable impurities. Special grades have been developed to maintain clarity and resistance to yeHowing upon gamma radiation sterilization (qv) processes. Leisure and safety appHcations are many and varied, accounting for about 22,000 t of consumption aimuaHy. The... 

Syringes (disposable) Gamma-radiation Sterilization Gamma-radiation Possibility of crazing of syringes after ethylene oxide... 

Administration (giving) sets Gamma-radiation Ethylene oxide Gamma-radiation Sterilization Gamma-radiation oxidative degradation when high vacuum autoclave used... 

In the Note for guidance and development of pharmaceuticals, the section on the manufacturing process stipulates clearly that, wherever possible, products intended to be sterile should be terminally sterilized in their final container. The methods of sterilization considered as terminal by the European Pharmacopoeia [5] are steam, dry-heat, gas or gamma-radiation sterilization. If terminal sterilization is not possible, sterilization filtration or aseptic processing are authorized but the choice must be fully justified. 

The first conventional UHMWPE material was a control, virgin, unirradiated material. The second conventional UHMWPE material was gamma-radiation sterilized in nitrogen with a dose of 30 kGy (referred to as 30 kGy, Y-N2). The two highly crosslinked UHMWPEs were both gamma irradiated with an absorbed dose of 100 kGy. One of the crosslinked materials was heat treated until the specimen center reached 110°C for 2 hours (referred to as 100 kGy, 110°G). The second was heat treated at 150°G for 2 hours (referred to as 100 kGy, 150°G). The degree of crystallinity of the four material types was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), see Table 14.2. 

K.A. da Silva Aquino, in F. Adrovic (Ed.), Sterilization by Gamma Irradiation, Gamma Radiation, InTech, 2012, ISBN 978-953-51-0316-5, http //dx.doi.org/10.5772/34901. Available from http //www.intechopen.com/books/gamma-radiation/sterilization-by-gamma-irradiation. 

Lundy, C., et al. Methods of Color Stabilization in Gamma-Radiation-Sterilized Polycarbonate. SPE-ANTEC, Apr. 1988. 

Acrylic resins offer exceptional optical clarity, excellent sterilisability, processability, dimensional stability, bondability and excellent UV transmittance. High impact and medium impact grades are available with exceptional resistance to gamma radiation sterilization and superior UV transmission, for in vitro diagnostic use. 

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