Analytical challenges and recent advances in the identification and quantitation of extractables and leachables in pharmaceutical and medical products

Structure elucidation and confirmation of unknown impurities in an animal health product by the strategy of utilizing a variety of advanced analytical techniques

During stability test of an animal health finished drug product (liquid transdermal formulation packed in plastic syringe), several unexpected peaks were observed in the HPLC chromatograms. The structure and possible origin of these unknown peaks needed to be determined to ensure the safety and efficacy of the finished drug product. Each unknown peak poses different analytical challenges for full structure elucidation. In this paper, we presented the strategies and experimental results for the identification of these unexpected peaks using a combination of different advanced analytical techniques, namely HPLC/PDA, High Resolution MS and MS2, and headspace GC/MS. The orthogonal information provided by UV spectra, HRMS data, elemental composition, and MS2 fragmentation of these unknown peaks were used to propose the most probable structures for these unknown peaks. The proposed structures of these unknown peaks were fully confirmed by reference materials. The origins of these compounds were identified through an extraction study of the primary packaging materials. Hence, the unknown peaks were confirmed as leachable compounds from the primary packaging materials. Successful identification of these compounds enables quantification and toxicological evaluation. Additionally, the identification of these leachable compounds can be used to improve the primary package production process. By minimizing or eliminating the use of these compounds in the package production process, the risk of these compounds migrating into final finished drug product will be minimized in the future.

Method development and validation for determination of N-Nitrosamines in pharmaceutical preparations by LC-MS/MS: Application to extractables and leachables studies

The use of highly sensitive and reliable analytical methods is essential for Extractables & Leachables studies. Especially the determination of N-Nitrosamines in drugs, which have carcinogenic properties and may contaminate drugs at trace levels, is quite important. In this study, a new, sensitive, short-time and reliable liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the analysis of 15 N-Nitrosamines defined in the European Pharmacopoeia within the scope of Extractables & Leachables studies and validated according to the International Council for Harmonization (ICH Q2 (R2)). The analysis of N-Nitrosamines was carried out in positive mode using an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization source in the dynamic multiple reaction monitoring scanning mode. In the chromatographic separation, gradient elution was applied using a reverse phase Phenyl column and the mobile phase (A: 0.1 % formic acid in ultrapure water, B: 0.1 % formic acid in methanol); total analysis time was 16 mins and the flow rate was optimized as 0.6 mL/min. N-Nitroso-dimethylamine-d6 was used as an internal standard. The developed method was used in extractables studies to control the potential presence of N-Nitrosamines that may be caused by interactions between the product and primary packaging materials (e.g. polypropylene bag, LDPE container, disposable eye drop packaging and bromobutyl stopper). It was also successfully applied to pharmaceutical preparations containing sugammadex, metformin, gliclazide and paracetamol in the leachables studies.

Procedural modifications proposed for the screening of substances extracted from pharmaceutical packaging systems and medical devices with the goal of improving inter-laboratory consistency of the data generated

Substances that migrate (leachables) into a pharmaceutical product from the materials that comprise its manufacturing, packaging, and/or delivery system(s) have the potential to negatively impact its safety and/or quality. Mitigating the impact of this interaction typically includes the screening of substances that can be extracted (extractables) from these materials using appropriate solvents and exposure conditions. Despite the importance of such extractable screening studies in assuring product quality and patient safety, it has become apparent that inconsistencies in their execution between laboratories have resulted in the potential for differences in the qualitative and/or quantitative aspects of the extractable profiles obtained. Since this issue was discovered primarily through anecdotal accounts, a working group within ELSIE conducted two industry surveys that inquired into impactful variables of extractable screening study design and execution. After completion of these surveys, it was concluded that there were numerous variables where labs were not well aligned, which may be impacting the consistency of the data generated to some extent. To that end, this commentary summarizes recommendations proposed by the ELSIE working group to address the discrepancies in extractable study design and ultimately produce more consistent and reliable extractable profiles between laboratories.

A critical opinion-based review of hospital pharmacy compounding with respect to the risk of leachable substances due to the off-label use of plastic primary packaging

Hospital pharmacies play a unique role in healthcare by regularly compounding drug products (DPs) in response to hospital demands and practices, for example, drug shortages, to cater to frail and vulnerable patients with infectious, chronic or nutrition-related conditions. Drugs are compounded in precise concentrations for extended durations, sometimes involving complex formulations. A significant challenge in this context is the off-label use of short-term plastic primary packaging for long-term storage of compounded DPs, which could be due to a lack of awareness, financial constraints and inadequate regulation. Without proper risk assessments, such packaging can release potentially harmful leachable compounds, posing a serious threat to patient safety. Evaluating hospital pharmacy compounding procedures to mitigate this risk is essential. While off-label drug use is a well-known concept in hospitals, off-label use of plastic primary packaging is an entirely different practice. In both the United States and Europe, healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, are allowed to use medical devices, including primary packaging, in ways that are not explicitly approved by regulators based on their clinical judgement and best practices, taking into account the patient's best interest. However, this off-label use could bring about unique risks and challenges, especially in the highly controlled environment of hospital pharmacy compounding, where patient safety is crucial. Therefore, the current review explores the historical context and the current landscape of hospital pharmacies, investigates the potential root causes of container closure integrity issues in pharmaceutical compounding, discusses the materials of construction as well as their physical-chemical properties influencing their roles in most popular primary packaging and finally presents expert opinions aimed at identifying long-term solutions to the existing challenges regarding their off-label uses in hospital pharmacy compounding.

Bidirectional approach of Punica granatum natural compounds: reduction in lung cancer and SARS-CoV-2 propagation

The spreading of COVID-19 has posed a risk to global health, especially for lung cancer patients. An investigation is needed to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 pathophysiology and lung cancer disease. This study was designed to evaluate the phytoconstituents in Punica granatum peel (PGP), its anti-lung cancer activity, and in silico evaluation for antiviral potential. GC-MS technique was used to detect the phytoconstituents. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using MTT dye, followed by apoptosis, ROS generation, and cell cycle phase detection in human lung cancer cells (A549). The glide module of Maestro software was used to investigate the molecular-docking interaction of the constituents against main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS-CoV-2. GROMACS 2023.2 was utilized to evaluate the complex stability. A total of nineteen phytocomponents were detected in the PGP extract through GC-MS analysis. PGP has shown a potential to reduce lung cancer cell proliferation while evading normal cell death. PGP induced apoptosis by arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase and generating ROS. A total of six and eight phytocomponents had a high affinity for PLpro and Mpro proteins, respectively. The top docked complex, ethyl 5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate, with PLpro and Mpro proteins, showed likely stable interaction throughout 100 ns simulation. This finding raises the possibility of top-eight hits (docking score ≥ -1.0 kcal/mol) preventing SARS-CoV-2 severity. The phytoconstituents exhibited orally active drugs with no more than one violation and drug-likeness activity. The PGP phytoconstituents are suggested to be dual agents for lung cancer and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.

Impurities in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Drug Products: A Critical Review

The presence of impurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and drug products represents a risk to patients' health. Such substances are related to diverse side effects and may have mutagenic potential. That's why it is necessary to establish acceptable limits for these by-products, to minimize the risk associated with medicinal therapy. This work focused on presenting a critical review of relevant points related to the presence of impurities in pharmaceuticals. The main legislation and guidelines from the FDA, EMA, ICH, and Pharmacopeias about the subject were evaluated, and recent articles related to the topic were searched in Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science from 2013 to 2023. Additionally, the analytical techniques used for quantifying impurities were discussed, along with relevant tests for assessing the toxicological and mutagenic risks of these by-products. Recent legislation, including ICH Q3A (R2), ICH Q3B (R2), ICH M7 (R2), ICH Q3D (R2), ICH Q3C (R9), ICH Q3E, ICH Q6A, ICH M3 (R2), as well as FDA and EMA guidelines, highlights a comprehensive and effective framework for controlling impurities in pharmaceuticals. Despite this, there remains a lack of harmonization and standardized procedures across different regions. From the review of scientific literature, we observed that advancements in analytical techniques have significantly improved the sensitivity and selectivity in detecting impurities and degradation products. This underscores the ongoing commitment of health agencies and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicinal products.

Identification of nonvolatile organic compounds (NVOCs) in biopharmaceuticals through non-target analysis and quantification using complexation-precipitation extraction

Single-use systems in biopharmaceutical manufacturing can potentially release chemical constituents (leachables) into drug products. Prior to conducting toxicological risk assessments, it is crucial to establish the qualitative and quantitative methods for these leachables. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive screening and structure elucidation of 23 leachables (nonvolatile organic compounds, NVOCs) in two antibody drugs using multiple (self-built and public) databases and mass spectral simulation. We identified 7 compounds that have not been previously reported in medical or medicinal extractables and leachables. The confidence levels for identified compounds were classified based on analytical standards, literature references, and fragment assignments. Most of the identified leachables were found to be plasticizers, antioxidants, slip agents or polymer degradants. Polysorbate (namely Tween) is commonly used as an excipient for protein stabilization in biopharmaceutical formulations, but its ionization in liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry can interfere with compound quantification. To address this, we employed a complexation-precipitation extraction method to reduce polysorbate content and quantify the analytes. The developed quantitative method for target NVOCs demonstrated high sensitivity (limit of quantification: 20 or 50 μg/L), accuracy (recoveries: 77.2 to 109.5 %) and precision (RSD ≤ 8.2 %). Overall, this established method will facilitate the evaluation of NVOC safety in drug products.

Recent Advances in Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction for Pharmaceutical Analysis

Sample clean-up and pre-concentration are critical components of pharmaceutical analysis. The dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) technique is widely recognized as the most effective approach for enhancing overall detection sensitivity. While various DLLME modes have been advanced in pharmaceutical analysis, there need to be more discussions on pre-concentration techniques specifically developed for this field. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the different DLLME modes used in pharmaceutical analysis from 2017 to May 2023. The review covers the principles of DLLME, the factors affecting microextraction, the selected applications of different DLLME modes, and their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, it focuses on multi-extraction strategies employed for pharmaceutical analysis.

Development of a generic approach for monitoring leachable compounds in hospital pharmacy-prepared prefilled plastic packaging by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry with postcolumn infusion

Prefilled plastic packaging is time- and cost-effective in hospital pharmacy because it prevents waste, preparation errors, dosage errors, microbial contamination and accidents. This packaging mostly includes prefilled syringes (PFS), intravenous (IV) bags and vials intended for long-term storage that can be used for immediate treatment. There is a rising availability in the market for prefilled drug products due to their practical approach. Leachable compounds could be evaluated in hospital pharmacy-prepared prefilled drug solutions. The Pharmacy Department at the Lausanne University Hospital has developed an innovative, highly sensitive, and generic method by postcolumn infusion based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for the analysis of plastic additives in hospital pharmacies. The postcolumn infusion solution was developed with 2% ammonium hydroxide in methanol on a representative set of 30 candidate compounds with different physical-chemical properties, such as log P and molecular structure, to represent the most important categories of additives. The LODs obtained for all compounds ranged from 0.03 to 7.91 ng/mL with linearity up to 250 ng/mL. Through this screening method, plastic additives can be rapidly identified due to the combined use of retention time, exact mass (including isotopic pattern) and MS/MS spectra. In addition, the users can screen for vast categories of plastic additives, including plasticizers, epoxy monomers, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, and others. The screening is facilitated by assessments of a complex in-house-built database for extractable and leachable trace assessment (DELTA), containing 205 compounds for unambiguous identification. Relative response factors were established for all analytes to obtain a semiquantitation of compounds. Moreover, the database also contains valuable estimative toxicology information, which was obtained through calculating their permissible dose exposure threshold; thus, estimative toxicology assessment can be performed for identified compounds in prefilled drug products. This method and the database were applied to a hospital pharmacy-prepared prefilled vancomycin syringe for paediatric use. Ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) was used to prepare the samples for leachable analysis. As a result, 17 plastic additives were formally identified, and their concentrations were estimated. A toxicology assessment was performed by comparing their concentrations with their theoretical PDE thresholds. In conclusion, the prefilled drug solution released a negligible amount of known leachables that appeared to be safe for use in neonates and children.

A Novel Method for Monitoring N-Nitrosamines Impurities Using NH2-MIL-101(Fe) Mediated Dispersive Micro-Solid Phase Extraction Coupled with LC-MS/MS in Biopharmaceuticals

A highly efficient and convenient method for the simultaneous determination of 12 N-nitrosamines (NAs) has been developed using an amine-functionalized metal-organic framework (NH2-MIL-101(Fe)) as sorbent for dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μSPE) coupled with LC-MS/MS in biopharmaceuticals. The experimental variables involved in the extraction process (i.e., amount of the sorbent, extraction time, desorption time, ionic strength, desorption solvent and volume) were optimized to achieve the best extraction efficiency of the target analytes. Under the optimum conditions, the method was successfully validated, showing good linearity in the range of 0.5-3.0 μg/L with determination coefficients (R2) higher than 0.990, repeatability (RSD ≤ 10.0%, spiked level at 2.0 μg/L) and precision (RSD ≤ 8.2%). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were in the range of 0.005-0.025 μg/L and 0.010-0.250 μg/L, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries ranging from 82.4 to 116.8% were obtained by spiking standards at three different concentrations (0.5 μg/L, 2.0 μg/L and 3.0 μg/L). Other validation parameters, including specificity, stability, and robustness, met the validation criteria. More importantly, the plausible adsorption mechanism on NH2-MIL-101(Fe) was proposed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra technique. Finally, this method was successfully applied to detect trace nitrosamines in biopharmaceuticals.

Determination of extractable pollutants from microplastics to vegetables: Accumulation and incorporation into the food chain

The presence and impacts of microplastics (MPs) are being extensively researched and reviewed, especially in the marine environment. However, mobility, transportation routes, and accumulation of leaching compounds such as additives in plastic waste including MPs are scarcely studied. Information regarding ecotoxicity and leachability of compounds related to MPs contamination in the environment is limited. Current work presents the levels of leachates from plastic materials in edible-root and non-edible root vegetables. Samples were analyzed by static headspace and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SHS-GC-MS) and the presence of 93 putative compounds was accurately monitored in the samples by the usage of Mass Spectrometry-Data Independent Analysis software. The application of chemometrics to the SHS-GC-MS dataset allowed differentiation between the levels of plastic related compounds in edible root and non-edible root vegetables, the former showing a higher content of plastic leachates. For SHS sampling, 3 g of the sample were incubated at 130 °C for 35 min in the HS vial and toluene and naphthalene were added as internal standards for quantification purposes. The developed SHS-GC-MS methodology is straightforward, reliable, and robust and allowed the quantification of sixteen plastic associated compounds in the samples studied in a range from 0.14 to 28800 ng g-1 corresponding to 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and p,α-dimethylstyrene, respectively. Several of the quantified compounds pointed out to potential contamination of polystyrene and/or polyvinyl chloride MPs.

Determination of Response Factors for Analytes Detected during Migration Studies, Strategy and Internal Standard Selection for Risk Minimization

Migration studies are one of the few domains of pharmaceutical analysis employing wide-scope screening methodologies. The studies involve the detection of contaminants within pharmaceutical products that arise from the interaction between the formulation and materials. Requiring both qualitative and quantitative data, the studies are conducted using Liquid Chromatography or Gas Chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS and GC-MS). While mass spectrometry allows wide-scope analyte detection and identification at the very low Analytical Evaluation Threshold (AET) levels used in these studies, MS detectors are far from "universal response" detectors. Regulation brings the application of uncertainty factors into the picture to limit the risk of potential analytes detected escaping report and further evaluation; however, whether the application of a default value can cover any or all relevant applications is still debatable. The current study evaluated the response of species usually detected in migration studies, generating a suitable representative sample, analyzing said species, and creating a strategy and evaluation mechanism for acceptable classification of the detected species. Incorporating novel methodologies, i.e., Design of Experiments (DoE) for Design Space generation, the LC-MS-based methodology is also evaluated for its robustness in changes performed.

A Chemical Characterization Workflow for Nontargeted Analysis of Complex Extracts from Polymer Based Medical Device Using High Resolution LC/MS

The chemical characterization of extractables and leachables (E&Ls) is an important aspect of biosafety and biocompatibility assessment in medical device industry. The advent of the body-contact use of medical devices in patient treatment has introduced a potential source for extractables and leachables as these medical devices are comprised of various polymeric materials. Several industry working groups, the FDA and USP, have recognized the guidance for chemical characterizations and nontargeted analysis of medical device extracts, such as ISO 10993-18:2020. The MS application of nontargeted analysis has played a critical role in understanding the E&Ls from medical device extracts. However, there have been very few reports about the MS based workflow with nontargeted analysis for medical device extracts and there is little guidance about the exact methodologies which should be used, even though there is an urgent need for a clearly defined process for the identification of medical device extracts. In this study, we demonstrated an analytical LC/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry) workflow using high resolution Exploris120 Orbitrap instrument for data acquisition and Compound Discoverer 3.3 intelligent software for data processing to profile the polymer related E&Ls from a balloon dilation catheter device extracted with 40% ethanol. An E&L ID workflow combining LC separation, data-informed MS acquisition strategy, MS information mining (including adduct ions, MS information from both electrospray ionization (ESI) (+) and ESI (-), in-source fragmentation, common fragment ions (CFIs), common neutral losses (CNLs), and in silico MS simulation was described with intelligent software processing and manual data interpretation. The workflow developed in this study was proven to be effective to provide a comprehensive profile of polymer related degradation products, polymer impurities and additives including surfactants, UV curing agent, antioxidants, and plasticizers for the device analyzed. The classification of E&L compounds using CFIs and CNLs was very effective to facilitate the identification of polymer related impurities and extract the polymer related impurities with common structures in a large data result set.

Non-targeted analysis with liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry for the identification of food packaging migrants

Potential contamination of food with chemicals migrating from food packaging is an important, yet under-investigated area of food safety. In this study, we examined chemicals migrating from common paper-based food packaging: pizza boxes and pizza box liners, butcher paper and liquid egg containers. Migration tests were conducted with a food simulant for 10 days, and migrated chemicals were identified with liquid chromatography (LC) - high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) with mass error < 3 ppm. HRMS identification was based on spectra and/or structure matching against commercial databases (MzCloud, ChemSpider, and Extractable and Leachable high resolution accurate mass (HRAM) database). Following HRMS identification, orthogonal LC retention information was utilized to further refine the data and reduce false positive findings. A model for calculating retention times (t_R) based on octanol-water partition coefficient (log K_ow) values was evaluated and applied for HRMS data refining. Using this approach, 153 migrated chemicals were identified, of which five were further confirmed with reference analytical standards. Additionally, amounts of bisphenol A and bisphenol S, the chemicals of toxicological concerns, were measured at the levels below the established regulatory limits for migration, indicating no/low risk to consumer's health. This study demonstrated the utility of LC-HRMS for confident identification of food packaging migrants.

Chemical Characterization and Non-targeted Analysis of Medical Device Extracts: A Review of Current Approaches, Gaps, and Emerging Practices

The developers of medical devices evaluate the biocompatibility of their device prior to FDA's review and subsequent introduction to the market. Chemical characterization, described in ISO 10993-18:2020, can generate information for toxicological risk assessment and is an alternative approach for addressing some biocompatibility end points (e.g., systemic toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive/developmental toxicity) that can reduce the time and cost of testing and the need for animal testing. Additionally, chemical characterization can be used to determine whether modifications to the materials and manufacturing processes alter the chemistry of a patient-contacting device to an extent that could impact device safety. Extractables testing is one approach to chemical characterization that employs combinations of non-targeted analysis, non-targeted screening, and/or targeted analysis to establish the identities and quantities of the various chemical constituents that can be released from a device. Due to the difficulty in obtaining a priori information on all the constituents in finished devices, information generation strategies in the form of analytical chemistry testing are often used. Identified and quantified extractables are then assessed using toxicological risk assessment approaches to determine if reported quantities are sufficiently low to overcome the need for further chemical analysis, biological evaluation of select end points, or risk control. For extractables studies to be useful as a screening tool, comprehensive and reliable non-targeted methods are needed. Although non-targeted methods have been adopted by many laboratories, they are laboratory-specific and require expensive analytical instruments and advanced technical expertise to perform. In this Perspective, we describe the elements of extractables studies and provide an overview of the current practices, identified gaps, and emerging practices that may be adopted on a wider scale in the future. This Perspective is outlined according to the steps of an extractables study: information gathering, extraction, extract sample processing, system selection, qualification, quantification, and identification.

Phytoconstituents from Moringa oleifera fruits target ACE2 and open spike glycoprotein to combat SARS-CoV-2: An integrative phytochemical and computational approach

Therapeutic drugs based on natural products for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 are currently unavailable. This study was conducted to develop an anti-SARS-CoV-2 herbal medicine to face the urgent need for COVID-19 treatment. The bioactive components from ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera fruits (MOFs) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Molecular-docking analyses elucidated the binding effects of identified phytocomponents against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6VYB) and human ACE2 receptor (PDB ID: 1R42) through the Glide module of Maestro software. GC-MS analysis unveiled the presence of 33 phytocomponents. Eighteen phytocomponents exhibited good binding affinity toward ACE2 receptor, and thirteen phytocomponents had a high affinity with spike glycoprotein. This finding suggests that the top 11 hits (Docking score ≥ -3.0 kcal/mol) could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 propagation. Intriguingly, most of the phytoconstituents displayed drug-likeness with no predicted toxicity. However, further studies are needed to validate their effects and mechanisms of action. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Moringa oleifera (MO) also called "drumstick tree" has been used as an alternative food source to combat malnutrition and may act as an immune booster. GC-MS analysis unveiled that ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera fruits (MOFs) possessed 33 active components of pyridine, aromatic fatty acid, oleic acid, tocopherol, methyl ester, diterpene alcohol, triterpene and fatty acid ester and their derivatives, which have various pharmacological and medicinal values. Virtual screening study of phytocomponents of MOF with human ACE2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein exhibited good binding affinity. Based on molecular docking, the top 11 hits (Docking score ≥-3.0 kcal/mol) might serve as potential lead molecules in antiviral drug development. Intriguingly, most of the phytoconstituents displayed drug-likeness with no predicted toxicity. Thus, MOF might be used as a valuable source for antiviral drug development to combat COVID-19, an ongoing pandemic.

X-ray sterilization of biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment-Extractables profile of a film material and copolyester Tritan™ compared to gamma irradiation

The biopharmaceutical industry gains enormous flexibility in production processes by using sterilized preassembled single‐use devices. Gamma irradiation is an established sterilization technology that may be restricted in the future by the availability of ⁶⁰Co as irradiation source and irradiation capacities. X‐ray technology is considered an alternative type of radiation for sterilizing SU equipment. In the context of extractables and leachables—one concern connected with the use of single‐use process equipment—the effect of X‐ray irradiation on the extractables profile of the materials needs to be compared to established gamma irradiation to qualify this alternative technology. An approach is presented to obtain robust and comprehensive extractables data for materials used in SU devices after sterilization either using X‐ray or gamma irradiation. A careful selection of the test items and the test design allows a one‐to‐one comparison of data obtained from a combination of orthogonal analytical techniques. The extractables of a modern SU film material and the copolyester Tritan™ are evaluated. The data presented allow a risk evaluation on the safety of this new sterilization modality for biopharmaceutical applications. It is demonstrated that the extractables profile of a polymer is not affected by the type of irradiation used for sterilization.