[Effect of light and heat on the stability of furacilin aqueous solution].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of both light and heat on the stability of furacilin aqueous solution and the probability of substituting for isothermal accelerated tests by nonisothermal accelerated tests upon exposure to light at high temperatures.


METHODS
The isothermal and nonisothermal accelerated tests were employed. The accelerated tests were proceeded in the dark and exposed to light at high temperature. Tungsten, ultraviolet and fluorescent lamps were employed in exposure tests.


RESULTS
The degradation of furacilin aqueous solution in isothermal heating experiments or the exposure experiments to light at high temperatures obeys zero-order kinetics. The total degradation rate constant k caused by both light and heat can be divided into two parts: k = kdark + klight, where kdark and klight are the degradation rate constant caused by heat and light, respectively. The klight can be expressed as klight = Alight.exp(-Ea,light/RT).E, where E is the illuminance of light; Alight and Ea,light are both experimental constants. The parameters obtained in nonisothermal accelerated tests were comparable to those obtained in classic isothermal accelerated tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Nonisothermal accelerated tests may substitute for isothermal accelerated tests during the study of the effects of both light and heat on the stability of drugs, in order to save time, labor and drugs.
Li
Zhi-yi
ZY
West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhan
Xian-cheng
XC
Li
Lin-li
LL
Li
Kai-lan
KL
Lin
Tao
T
Li
Cheng-rong
CR
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000737:chemistry; D004355:Drug Stability; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008027:Light; D008433:Mathematics; D009583:Nitrofurazone / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012996:Solutions; D009583:Nitrofurazone