| 摘要 |
A method of sterilising a protein, comprises exposing to ionising radiati on an at least substantially dry composition comprises a protein and a prote ctive compound or combination of protective compounds having both of the fol lowing characteristics: (i) a rate of reaction with singlet oxygen greater t han 1 x 10 ^7 L mol^-1 s^-1; (ii) being a reducing agent whilst at the same time containing a proton dissociable group with a pKa no more than 3 units f rom the pH of the composition. The compound having characteristic (i) is sel ected from histidine, thiamine and tryptophan, the compound having character istic (ii) is selected from methionine, malate, citrate, lactate and tiron. The radiation is gamma radiation or electron beam, whereby the preferred dos e is 15 - 40 kGy.
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