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Compound Evidence InstituteEvidence synthesis · established 2023Graded assessments of compounds, trials, methods and supply
Document set current to 30 July 2026
Methodological standard · Stability

CEI-MS-20 — Photostability assessment of light-sensitive peptides

Photostability assessment of light-sensitive peptides

Document identifier
CEI-MS-20
Series
Methodological standard
Version
1.0
Published
27 Jul 2025
Last reviewed
27 Jul 2025
Next review
27 Jul 2028
Identifier
10.71829/cei.meth.17
Certainty
High
Cycle
2025 Q3
Category
Stability

§1Scope

§1.1Scope

Applies to peptides containing tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine or cysteine, to copper complexes, and to any compound whose monograph records a photolytic degradation route. Several of the most widely supplied research peptides fall in this class, including two hexapeptides containing two tryptophan residues each.

§2Principle

Ultraviolet and visible radiation excites aromatic side chains, generating radical species that oxidise the excited residue and adjacent ones. Tryptophan is the most photolabile common residue, degrading through N-formylkynurenine and kynurenine intermediates with characteristic absorbance changes near 320 and 360 nm. The extent of degradation depends on total illumination, container transmittance and the presence of photosensitisers.[1,2]

§3Apparatus and reagents

§3.1Apparatus

  • Photostability chamber with a combination of cool-white fluorescent and near-ultraviolet lamps, or a xenon source, meeting ICH option 1 or option 2
  • Calibrated lux meter and ultraviolet radiometer
  • Quinine chemical actinometer as an alternative to radiometry
  • Amber and clear containers of the type used in supply

§3.2Reagents and reference materials

  • Quinine hydrochloride for actinometry, where used
  • Aluminium foil for dark controls

References cited on this page

References are numbered in order of first citation in this document. Each superscript in the text links to its entry below.

  1. International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. ICH Q1A(R2) Stability Testing of New Drug Substances and Products. ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline 2003;Step 4 version. identifier not held by the Institute
  2. Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharmaceutical Research 2010;27(4):544–575. doi:10.1007/s11095-009-0045-6 · PMID 20143256

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