Streptokinase stability pattern during storage in various solvents and at different tempertures

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Protein Chemistry

Background:

• Streptokinase is a crucial thrombolytic agent.
• Understanding streptokinase stability is vital for its therapeutic efficacy.
• Protein stability is influenced by environmental factors like temperature and solution composition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stability of streptokinase in various solutions and conditions.
• To identify factors affecting streptokinase activity.
• To determine optimal storage conditions for streptokinase.

Main Methods:

• Streptokinase activity was measured in diverse solutions (saline, glucose, dextran, gelatin, albumin, buffer, heparin) at varying temperatures (-20°C to 37°C) and time points (15 min to 48 h).
• Solutions were categorized by their stabilizing properties (excellent, medium, poor).
• Therapeutic concentrations of streptokinase were tested for stability.

Main Results:

• Low streptokinase concentrations showed reduced activity without stabilizing agents.
• Gelatin and albumin solutions provided excellent stabilization, while dextran and levulose offered medium stabilization.
• NaCl and glucose solutions, along with Michaelis buffer, exhibited poor stabilizing properties.
• Therapeutic concentrations (1500-50,000 U/mL) remained stable for 48 hours, irrespective of the solvent or temperature.
• Heparin did not affect streptokinase stability at room temperature over 48 hours.

Conclusions:

• Negatively charged colloids are essential for maintaining the structural integrity of low-concentration streptokinase.
• High concentrations of streptokinase possess inherent stability.
• Albumin, gelatin, and streptokinase itself (at high concentrations) are effective stabilizers.