PROTECTIVE AGENTS AGAINST E-BEAM IRRADIATION FOR PROTEINS IN OPTICAL SENSING CHEMISTRY

摘要

Medical devices are typically sterilized in processes used to manufacture such products and their sterilization by exposure to radiation is a common practice. Radiation has a number of advantages over other sterilization processes including a high penetrating ability, relatively low chemical reactivity, and instantaneous effects without the need to control temperature, pressure, vacuum, or humidity. Unfortunately, radiation sterilization can compromise the function of certain components of medical devices. For example, radiation sterilization can lead to loss of protein activity and/or lead to bleaching of various dye compounds. Embodiments of the invention provide methods and materials that can be used to protect medical devices from unwanted effects of radiation sterilization.

主权项

1. A method of inhibiting damage to a saccharide sensor that can result from a radiation sterilization process, the method comprising combining the saccharide sensor with an aqueous radioprotectant formulation during the sterilization process, wherein:
the saccharide sensor comprises mannose binding lectin; the aqueous radioprotectant formulation comprises a saccharide selected for its ability to bind the mannose binding lectin, the aqueous radioprotectant formulation further comprises at least one reactive oxygen species that includes sodium nitrate; and performing the sterilization process under conditions selected so that the saccharide binds the mannose binding lectin and the reactive oxygen species absorbs free electron energy generated by the radiation sterilization process, wherein said conditions include a temperature below 10° C., thereby inhibiting damage to the saccharide sensor.