Compatibility of paclitaxel in 5% glucose solution with ECOFLAC low-density polyethylene containers-stability under different storage conditions.

The compatibility of paclitaxel with low-density polyethylene containers (ECOFLAC) was studied under different temperature and light conditions. Solutions of 0.4 and 1.2 mg/ml of paclitaxel in 5% glucose solution were prepared, put into ECOFLAC containers and stored: (i) at ambient temperature (20-25 degrees C) and in ambient light; (ii) at ambient temperature in the dark; and (iii) at +4 degrees C in the dark. Paclitaxel was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography after visual inspection of the solutions. The results show that solutions of TAXOL in 5% glucose should not be stored for more than 5 days in glass or ECOFLAC containers because a whitish precipitate tends to form, lowering the paclitaxel concentration. The decrease in the paclitaxel concentration observed after chromatographic analysis ranged very widely (from 12 to 83% of the initial concentration). However solutions of TAXOL diluted in 5% glucose was stable for 5 days in ECOFLAC containers under all the storage conditions tested. These additive-free low-density polyethylene containers offer the advantage of not releasing DEHP into the paclitaxel solutions.