Measurement and Decomposition Kinetics of Residual Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of Commonly used Excipients and Preservatives

Quantitation of residual hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and evaluation of the impact on product stability is necessary as unwanted H2O2 can potentially be introduced during the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, biologics, and vaccines. A sensitive and convenient microplate-based method with fluorescence detection for H2O2 quantitation was recently reported (Towne et al., 2004, Anal Biochem 334: 290-296). This method was found to be highly robust and reproducible, with a level of detection of 0.015 ppm and a level of quantitation of 0.025 ppm (in water). The relatively small sample requirements and amenability for automation make this assay an attractive tool for detecting residual H2O2 levels. Without additional manipulation, the assay can be conducted on heterogeneous solutions with significant degree of turbidity, such as the presence of suspensions or aluminum-containing adjuvants. The quantitation of H2O2 and its decomposition kinetics was also studied in presence of two common vaccine preservatives (thimerosal and phenol) and eight commonly used excipients (polyols). Over time, there is a distinct, temperature dependent decrease in H2O2 recovered in thimerosal and phenol containing samples versus non-preservative containing controls. Based on the half-life of spiked H2O2, the decay rates in eight polyols tested were found to be: ribose > sucrose > (glycerol, glucose, lactose, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylose). © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:3987-3996, 2009