ESR response of gamma-irradiated sulfamethazine

In the present work, characteristic features of the radiolytical intermediates produced in gamma-irradiated solid sulfamethazine (SMH) were investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The heights of the resonance peaks, measured with respect to the spectrum baseline, were used to monitor microwave saturation, temperature and time-dependent kinetic features of the radical species contributing to the formation of recorded experimental ESR spectra. Three species having different spectroscopic and kinetic features were observed to be produced in gamma-irradiated SMH. SO₂, which is the most sensitive group of radiation in the SMH molecule, was found to be at the origin of radiation-produced ionic radical species. Based on the experimental results derived from the present study, the applicability of ESR spectroscopy to radiosterilization of SMH was discussed. In the dose range of interest (0.5–10 kGy), the radiation yield of solid SMH was calculated to be very low (G=0.45) compared with those obtained for sulfonamide aqueous solutions (G=3.5–5.1). Based on these findings, it was concluded that SMH and SMH-containing drugs could be safely sterilized by gamma radiation and that ESR spectroscopy could be successfully used as a potential technique for monitoring their radiosterilization.