title: Application of electrolysis for inactivation of an antiviral drug that is one of possible selection pressure to drug-resistant influenza viruses.
abstract: The recent development of antiviral drugs has led to concern that the release of the chemicals in surface water due to expanded medical use could induce drug-resistant mutant viruses in zoonosis. Many researchers have noted that the appearance of an oseltamivir (Tamiflu(®))-resistant avian influenza mutant virus, which may spread to humans, could be induced by oseltamivir contamination of surface water. Although past studies have reported electrolysis as a possible method for degradation of antineoplastics and antibacterials in water, the validity of the method for treatment of antiviral drugs is unknown. In this study, electrolysis was used to degrade an antiviral prodrug, oseltamivir, and a stable active form, oseltamivir carboxylate, and the degradation process was monitored with HPLC-UV and the neuraminidase inhibitory assay. HPLC-UV-detectable oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate were decomposed by electrolysis within 60 min, and inhibitory activity of neuraminidase decreased below the detection limit of the assay used. Cytotoxic and genotoxic activity were not detected in electrolyzed fluid. These results indicate that electrolysis is a possible treatment for inactivation of the antiviral drug oseltamivir.
authors.affiliation: Project Team for Medical Application of Electrolysis, Central Research Center, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; Department of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical College Hospital, 2-7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Toyohide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujibo
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004572:Electrolysis; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000187:drug effects*; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D053139:Oseltamivir
keywords: Available chlorine; Avian influenza virus; Oseltamivir; Surface water; Tamiflu; Waterfowl