Platinum group metallodrug-protein binding studies by capillary electrophoresis - inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: a further insight into the reactivity of a novel antitumor ruthenium(III) complex toward human serum proteins

Biochemical speciation analysis has become a hot area of CE research due largely to growing emergence of inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS as a proper detection technique. A benefit of CE-ICP-MS coupling in species-selective analysis of anticancer metal-based drugs is the possibility of distinguishing the signals of the intact drug and its metabolites and hence of quantifying them independently. This advantage (over CE with UV-vis detection) was exploited here in order to gain better knowledge about the rate and degree of the transformation of indazolium [trans-tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] (KP1019), a promising tumor-inhibiting agent that successfully finished phase I clinical studies, upon its binding toward individual serum transport proteins. At increasing the KP1019/protein molar ratio, the reaction rate expressed by an evolving peak of the protein adduct became faster, with the equilibrium state being reached after about 40 and 60 min of incubation at 37 degrees C for transferrin and albumin, respectively. The binding reaction was shown to obey the first-order character that enabled for reliable calculation of the corresponding rate constants as (28.7 +/- 1.5) x 10(-4) and (10.6 +/- 0.7) x 10(-4)/s, respectively. When incubated with a ten-fold excess of KP1019, albumin and transferrin bound, respectively, up to 8 and 10 equiv. of ruthenium (Ru). Relative affinity of KP1019 toward different proteins under simulated physiological conditions was also characterized in terms of the overall binding constants (5600 and 10 600/M, respectively). To emphasize the difference in the protein-binding behavior, a competitive interaction of KP1019 was followed by CE-ICP-MS at the actual molar ratio of proteins in blood, i.e. a ten-fold excess of albumin over transferrin. The fact that KP1019 binds to albumin stronger than to transferrin was manifested by finding almost all ruthenium (98-99%) in the albumin fraction.     

Application of capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to comparative studying of the reactivity of antitumor ruthenium(III) complexes differing in the nature of counter-ion toward human serum proteins

Varying the counter-ion is a highly supportive practice in tackling the problem of poor water-solubility of metal complexes of pharmaceutical importance. As a matter of fact, the relevant structural modification may alter the metabolic pathways and possibly the mode of action of a drug. To prove that this does not take place for one of the lead anticancer metal-based developmental compounds, indazolium trans-[RuCl(4)(1H-indazole)(2)] (KP1019), its reactivity toward human serum proteins was assessed under simulated physiological conditions and compared to that of a much more soluble analogue, sodium trans-[RuCl(4)(1H-indazole)(2)] (KP1339). For such kinetic assaying, capillary electrophoresis (CE) interfaced online with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to specifically monitor changes in the metal speciation following the formation of ruthenium-protein adducts was applied. The rate constants of interaction with albumin and transferrin were determined at pharmacologically fitting drug-to-protein ratios as on average 0.0319+/-0.0021 min(-1) and 0.0931+/-0.0019 min(-1) (KP1019) and 0.0316+/-0.0018 min(-1) and 0.0935+/-0.0053 min(-1) (KP1339), respectively. The results of this brief study showed that changing from organic to inorganic counter-ion at the stage of formulation could commonly be recommended for improving ruthenium-based drug solubility and bioavailability.     

Capillary electrophoresis hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: a novel approach for the analysis of anticancer metallodrugs in human serum and plasma

The development of metal-based chemotherapeutics lacks methods which are capable of providing early indication on the potential of new metal complexes as future anticancer drugs. Since most of these compounds are administered intravenously, serum proteins are the first available biological binding partners in the bloodstream. For platinum-based anticancer drugs the interaction with serum proteins is regarded as an important contribution to the side effects accompanying chemotherapy. In contrast, newly developed ruthenium compounds are thought to be transported into the tumor in a protein-bound form. In here, the application of CE hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS, applying Polybrene-coated capillaries, is demonstrated for studying the interaction of indazolium [trans-tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] (KP1019) with HSA and transferrin, which are important transport proteins. Furthermore, the applicability of the method to human serum and plasma and, more importantly, to real-world patient samples was proven. KP1019 was found to bind to a high degree to HSA both in serum, plasma and the patient samples. Only minor fractions of ruthenium were found attached to other proteins.     

Determination of adduct forms of antitumor ruthenium(III) complex with cytosolic components by capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry

Using capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the transformation of adduct forms of indazolium trans-[tetrachloridobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] with apo-transferrin and albumin under the effect of active intracellular reducing agents, glutathione and ascorbic acid, and citric acid as a complexant was studied under conditions simulating a cytosolic environment. These adducts of ruthenium with transport proteins are forms in which the anticancer drug exists after intravenous administration. Two modes of interaction of adducts with glutathione, ascorbic acid, and citric acid were studied: in a capillary using a background electrolyte containing a cytosolic active ingredient and upon incubation of the reaction components in the off-line mode, followed by their separation and determination by capillary electrophoresis. Incubation with intracellular components and separation were carried out in a 10 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.0) containing 4 mM NaCl. The effect 1–10 mM of glutathione, 10 mM of ascorbic acid, and 50 mM of citric acid on the adducts was studied. It is shown that under the selected model conditions, new forms of ruthenium do not emerge.     

Determination of ascorbic acid in individual rat hepatocyte cells based on capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

A novel method to detect ascorbic acid (AA) in individual rat hepatocyte cells was developed by combining CE with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) based on tris(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)2+). A single cell, followed by 0.1% SDS as cell lysis solution, was injected into the inlet of the separation capillary by electromigration. After optimizing the analytical conditions, the RSDs of migration time and peak height were 0.38% and 2.6% for 1.0x10(-5) M AA (n=10), respectively. The linear range of AA was from 1.0x10(-8) to 5.0x10(-5) M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9979 and the LOD (S/N=3) was estimated to be 1.0x10(-8) M. This method has been successfully applied to determine AA in single rat hepatocytes and the amount of AA in seven rat hepatocytes ranged from 16 to 62 fmol. The above results demonstrated that CE coupled with ECL is convenient, sensitive, and will become an attractive alternative method for single-cell analysis.     

PHOTOADDITION OF p-AMINOBENZOIC ACID TO THYMINE AND THYMIDINE

Several studies in the literature have shown that DNA is damaged after UV irradiation in the presence of the sunscreen agent p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), both in vivo and in vitro. One type of damage has been shown to be the result of increased yields of pyrimidine cyclobutane dimer formation. However, it has been suggested that other types of lesions are produced as well. We have studied the photochemistry of the thymine-PABA and thymidine-PABA systems and report here the isolation and characterization of thymine-PABA and thymidine-PABA photoadducts. These products have been identified, respectively, as 5-(2-amino-5-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dihydrothymine and isomeric forms of 5-(2-amino-5-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dihydrothymine. The quantum yields for the formation of these adducts in deaerated aqueous solutions at pH 7.0 have been determined to be 9.5 x 10(-4) and 4.3 x 10(-3) for the thymine and thymidine based adducts respectively. A pH profile for the thymine-PABA system indicated a maximum quantum yield for adduct formation at pH 6.5, although it could be detected over the whole pH range studied (pH 3.5-11.0).     

Kinetics and mechanism for reversible chloride transfer between mercury(II) and square-planar platinum(II) chloro ammine, aqua, and sulfoxide complexes. Stabilities, spectra, and reactivities of transient metal-metal bonded platinum-mercury adducts

The Hg2+aq- and HgCl+aq-assisted aquations of [PtCl4]2- (1), [PtCl3(H2O)]- (2), cis-[PtCl2(H2O)2] (3), trans-[PtCl2(H2O)2] (4), [PtCl(H2O)3]+ (5), [PtCl3Me2SO]- (6), trans-[PtCl2(H2O)Me2SO] (7), cis-[PtCl(H2O)2Me2SO]+ (8), trans-[PtCl(H2O)2M32SO]+ (9), trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] (10), and cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] (11) have been studied at 25.0 degrees C in a 1.00 M HClO4 medium buffered with chloride, using stopped-flow and conventional spectrophotometry. Saturation kinetics and instantaneous, large UV/vis spectral changes on mixing solutions of platinum complex and mercury are ascribed to formation of transient adducts between Hg2+ and several of the platinum complexes. Depending on the limiting rate constants, these adducts are observed for a few milliseconds to a few minutes. Thermodynamic and kinetics data together with the UV/vis spectral changes and DFT calculations indicate that their structures are characterized by axial coordination of Hg to Pt with remarkably short metal-metal bonds. Stability constants for the Hg2+ adducts with complexes 1-6, 10, and 11 are (2.1 +/- 0.4) x 10(4), (8 +/- 1) x 10(2), 94 +/- 6, 13 +/- 2, 5 +/- 2, 60 +/- 6, 387 +/- 2, and 190 +/- 3 M-1, respectively, whereas adduct formation with the sulfoxide complexes 7-9 is too weak to be observed. For analogous platinum(II) complexes, the stabilities of the Pt-Hg adducts increase in the order sulfoxide < aqua < ammine complex, reflecting a sensitivity to the pi-acid strength of the Pt ligands. Rate constants for chloride transfer from HgCl+ and HgCl2 to complexes 1-11 have been determined. Second-order rate constants for activation by Hg2+ are practically the same as those for activation by HgCl+ for each of the platinum complexes studied, yet resolved contributions for Hg2+ and HgCl+ reveal that the latter does not form dinuclear adducts of any significant stability. The overall experimental evidence is consistent with a mechanism in which the accumulated Pt(II)-Hg2+ adducts are not reactive intermediates along the reaction coordinate. The aquation process occurs via weaker Pt-Cl-Hg or Pt-Cl-HgCl bridged complexes.     

Spectroscopic and kinetic study of the gas-phase CH3I-Cl and C2H5I-Cl adducts

Time-resolved UV-visible absorption spectroscopy has been coupled with UV laser flash photolysis of Cl2/RI/N2/X mixtures (R = CH3 or C2H5; X = O2, NO, or NO2) to generate the RI-Cl radical adducts in the gas phase and study the spectroscopy and reaction kinetics of these species. Both adducts were found to absorb strongly over the wavelength range 310-500 nm. The spectra were very similar in wavelength dependence with lambda(max) approximately 315 nm for both adducts and sigma(max) = (3.5 +/- 1.2) x 10(-17) and (2.7 +/- 1.0) x 10(-17) cm(2) molecule(-1) (base e) for CH3I-Cl and C2H5I-Cl, respectively (uncertainties are estimates of accuracy at the 95% confidence level). Two weaker bands with lambda max approximately 350 and 420 nm were also observed. Over the wavelength range 405-500 nm, where adduct spectra are reported both in the literature and in this study, the absorption cross sections obtained in this study are a factor of approximately 4 lower than those reported previously [Enami et al. J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 1587 and 6066]. Reactions of RI-Cl with O2 were not observed, and our data suggest that upper limit rate coefficients for these reactions at 250 K are 1.0 x 10(-17) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for R = CH3 and 2.5 x 10(-17) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for R = C2H5. Their lack of reactivity with O2 suggests that RI-Cl adducts are unlikely to play a significant role in atmospheric chemistry. Possible reactions of RI-Cl with RI could not be confirmed or ruled out, although our data suggest that upper limit rate coefficients for these reactions at 250 K are 3 x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for R = CH3 and 5 x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for R = C2H5. Rate coefficients for CH3I-Cl reactions with CH3I-Cl (k9), NO (k22), and NO2 (k24), and C2H5I-Cl reactions with C2H5I-Cl (k14), NO (k23), and NO2 (k25) were measured at 250 K. In units of 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), the rate coefficients were found to be 2k9 = 35 +/- 12, k22 = 1.8 +/- 0.4, k24 = 3.3 +/- 0.6, 2k14 = 40 +/- 16, k23 = 1.8 +/- 0.3, and k25 = 4.0 +/- 0.9, where the uncertainties are estimates of accuracy at the 95% confidence level.     

Thermal lens studies of the reaction of iron (II) with 1,10-phenanthroline at the nanogram level

The determination of iron(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline in aqueous solutions was carried out exemplarily by thermal lens spectrometry. The peculiarities of analytical reactions at the nanogram level of reactants can be studied using this method. Under the conditions of the competing reaction of ligand protonation, the overall stability constant for iron(II) chelate with 1,10-phenanthroline was determined at a level of n x 10(-7) mol L(-1), logbeta3 = 21.3+/-0.1. The rates of formation and dissociation of iron(II) tris-(1,10-phenanthrolinate) at a level of n x 10(-8) mol L(-1) were found to be (2.05+/-0.05) x 10(-2) min(-1) and (3.0+/-0.1) x 10(-3) min(-1), respectively. The conditions for the determination of iron(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline by thermal lensing were reconsidered, and ascorbic acid was shown to be the best reducing agent, which provided minimum and reproducible sample pretreatment. Changes in the conditions at the nanogram level improved both the selectivity and sensitivity of determination. The optimum measurement conditions for thermal lensing were determined not only by the absorption of the analyte and reagents, but also by the background absorption of the solvent. The limits of detection and quantification of iron(II) at 488.0 nm (excitation beam power 140 mW) are 1 x 10(-9) and 6 x 10(-9) mol L(-1), respectively; the reproducibility RSD for the range n x 10(-8)-n x 10(-6) mol L(-1) is 2-5%.     

Detection of DNA adducts of benzo[a]pyrene using immunoelectrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence. Analysis of A549 cells

Detection of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-damaged DNA in a human lung carcinoma cell line (A549) has been performed using free zone affinity capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Using BPDE as a model carcinogenic compound, the speed, sensitivity and specificity of this technique was demonstrated. Under free zone conditions, an antibody bound adduct was baseline-resolved from an unbound adduct in less than 2 min. The efficiencies of separation were in excess of 6 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(6) plates per meter for the antibody-bound and unbound adducts, respectively. Separation using a low ionic strength buffer permitted the use of a high electric field (830 V/cm) without the loss of resolving power. Using LIF detection, a concentration detection limit of roughly 3 x 10(-10) M was achieved for a 90-mer oligonuleotide containing a single BDPE. The use of formamide in the incubation buffer to enhance denaturing of DNA did not affect the stability of the complex between the antibody and the adducts. Using a fluorescently labeled BPDE-modified DNA adduct probe, a competitive assay was established to determine the levels of BPDE-DNA adducts in A549 cells.     

Flow injection amperometric detection of ascorbic acid using a Prussian Blue film-modified electrode

The PB film-modified electrode was used as an amperometric detector for flow injection analysis of ascorbic acid. The modified electrode detector showed good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility. The calibration curve for ascorbic acid was linear over the concentration range from 5.0x10(-6) to 1.0x10(-3) mol l(-1) with a slope of 19.9 mA mol(-1) per litre and a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The detection limit of this method was 2.49x10(-6) mol l(-1). The relative standard deviation of six replicate injections of 2.5x10(-4) mol l(-1) ascorbic acid was 2.5%. The results obtained for ascorbic acid determination in pharmaceutical products are in good agreement with those obtained by using the procedure involving the reaction between triiodide and ascorbic acid.     

En route to osmium analogues of KP1019: synthesis, structure, spectroscopic properties and antiproliferative activity of trans-[Os(IV)Cl4(Hazole)2

By controlled Anderson type rearrangement reactions complexes of the general formula trans-[Os(IV)Cl(4)(Hazole)(2)], where Hazole = 1H-pyrazole, 2H-indazole, 1H-imidazole, and 1H-benzimidazole, have been synthesized. Note that 2H-indazole tautomer stabilization in trans-[Os(IV)Cl(4)(2H-indazole)(2)] is unprecedented in coordination chemistry of indazole. The metal ion in these compounds possesses the same coordination environment as ruthenium(III) in (H(2)ind)[Ru(III)Cl(4)(Hind)(2)], where Hind = 1H-indazole, (KP1019), an investigational anticancer drug in phase I clinical trials. These osmium(IV) complexes are appropriate precursors for the synthesis of osmium(III) analogues of KP1019. In addition the formation of an adduct of trans-[Os(IV)Cl(4)(Hpz)(2)] with cucurbit[7]uril is described. The compounds have been comprehensively characterized by elemental analysis, EI and ESI mass spectrometry, spectroscopy (IR, UV-vis, 1D and 2D NMR), cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. Their antiproliferative acitivity in the human cancer cell lines CH1 (ovarian carcinoma), A549 (nonsmall cell lung carcinoma), and SW480 (colon carcinoma) is reported.     

钌宝宝的自荐信——我是抗癌小战士

Using the anthropomorphic approach, this article introduces the discovery history of ruthenium elements in the first person role, and focuses on the ruthenium complexes as important therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. We have focused our attention on KP1019 incorporating ruthenium ions complexes which have been already used in clinical or have been advanced to clinical trials as anticancer agents. Moreover, the half-sandwich ruthenium and ruthenium polypyridine complexes drugs are also reviewed.     

Selective response of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid on L-cysteine self-assembled gold electrode

A L-cysteine (L-Cys) self-assembled modified gold electrode was used to detect dopamine (DA) by chronoamperometric method (CE) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). The defective limit is 2.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) (S/N=3). The proposed method was applied to detect DA in the samples with satisfied result.     

UVA-ketoprofen-induced hemoglobin radicals detected by immuno-spin trapping

Ketoprofen (3-benzoyl-alpha-methylbenzeneacetic acid, KP) is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that causes both phototoxicity and photoallergy. Here, we investigated the formation of hemoglobin radicals, in both purified hemoglobin and red blood cells (RBC), induced by ultraviolet A (UVA)-KP by using "immuno-spin trapping," a novel approach that combines the specificity of spin trapping with the sensitivity of antigen-antibody interactions. The methemoglobin (metHb) radicals react covalently with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) to form nitroxyl radical adducts that are oxidized to the corresponding nitrone adducts, which in turn are specifically recognized by antiserum against DMPO nitrone. We found that the formation of nitrone adducts in metHb depended on the UVA dose, the KP concentration and the presence of DMPO, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. Adduct formation decreased when irradiation was carried out in the presence of catalase or nitrogen, suggesting that H2O2 plays a key role in KP-UVA-induced metHb radical formation. KP in the dark did not generate metHb radical-derived nitrone adducts, whereas UVA alone resulted in the formation of metHb radical-derived nitrone adducts that increased with UVA dose from 4 to 10 J/cm2. However, KP (25 and 200 microM) plus UVA (4 and 10 J/cm2) resulted in a significant increase in the formation of metHb radical-derived nitrone adducts as compared with UVA or KP alone, indicating that KP photosensitized the production of the metHb radicals in the presence of UVA. In contrast, no metHb radical-derived nitrone adduct was detected in the absence of DMPO, even though KP and UVA were present. We also detected the hemoglobin radical formation in RBC as well as in hemolysates. The endogenous antioxidants and exogenous reduced glutathione inhibited the protein radical formation. These studies have shown that the immuno-spin-trapping technique can be used to detect radical damage in proteins as a result of photosensitizing reactions. The successful detection of protein radical formation caused by KP photosensitization could help further understand the photoallergic effect of this NSAID.     

Synthesis of fluorescently labeled alkylated DNA adduct standards and separation by capillary electrophoresis

DNA adducts are regarded as individual internal dosimeters for the exposure to chemical carcinogens. To date, the most sensitive method for DNA adduct analysis is the radioactive 32P-postlabeling method, which allows the detection of one adduct in 10(10) unmodified nucleotides in microg amounts of DNA. However, this technique suffers from disadvantages such as working with radioactive phosphorus and time-consuming chromatographic separation procedures. In addition, the simultaneous detection of adducts from different classes of carcinogens in a DNA sample is difficult. In order to overcome these drawbacks, we are developing a new detection method, comprising fluorescence labeling of DNA adducts, capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation, and on-line detection by monitoring laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). So far, we have evaluated the separation power and the detection limit of CE with fluorescently labeled standard compounds such as unmodified nucleotides or alkylated thymidines. For this purpose, we developed a universal method for labeling 5'-OH-mononucleosid-3'-dicyanoethyl-phosphates with fluorescent dyes based on the phosphoramidite technology for DNA synthesis. The separation of N3-methylated, N3-, O2- and O4-butylated thymidines from the unmodified nucleotide within a few minutes recommends CE-LIF as a powerful method for DNA adduct analysis.     

Mechanisms of NO release by N1-nitrosomelatonin: nucleophilic attack versus reducing pathways

A new type of physiologically relevant nitrosamines have been recently recognized, the N(1)-nitrosoindoles. The possible pathways by which N(1)-nitrosomelatonin (NOMel) can react in physiological environments have been studied. Our results show that NOMel slowly decomposes spontaneously in aqueous solution, generating melatonin as the main organic product (k = (3.7 +/- 1.1) x 10(-5) s(-1), Tris-HCl (0.2 M) buffer, pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C, anaerobic). This rate is accelerated by acidification (k(pH 5.8) = (4.5 +/- 0.7) x 10(-4) s(-1), k(pH 8.8) = (3.9 +/- 0.6) x 10(-6) s(-1), Tris-HCl (0.2 M) buffer at 37 degrees C), by the presence of O(2) (k(o) = (9.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(-5) s(-1), pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, [NOMel] = 0.1 mM, P(O(2)) = 1 atm), and by the presence of the spin trap TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl; k(o) = (2.0 +/- 0.1) x 10(-4) s(-1), pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, [NOMel] = 0.1 mM, [TEMPO] = 9 mM). We also found that NOMel can transnitrosate to l-cysteinate, producing S-nitrosocysteine and melatonin (k = 0.127 +/- 0.002 M(-1) s(-1), Tris-HCl (0.2 M) buffer, pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C). The reaction of NOMel with ascorbic acid as a reducing agent has also been studied. This rapid reaction produces nitric oxide and melatonin. The saturation of the observed rate constant (k = (1.08 +/- 0.04) x 10(-3) s(-1), Tris-HCl (0.2 M) buffer, pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C) at high ascorbic acid concentration (100-fold with respect to NOMel) and the pH independence of this reaction in the pH range 7-9 indicate that the reactive species are ascorbate and melatonyl radical originated from the reversible homolysis of NOMel. Taking into account kinetic and DFT calculation data, a comprehensive mechanism for the denitrosation of NOMel is proposed. On the basis of our kinetics results, we conclude that under physiological conditions NOMel mainly reacts with endogenous reducing agents (such as ascorbic acid), producing nitric oxide and melatonin.     

Catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid by some ferrocene derivative mediators at the glassy carbon electrode. Application to the voltammetric resolution of ascorbic acid and dopamine in the same sample

Direct-current cyclic voltammetry is used to investigate the suitability of some ferrocene derivatives such as ferrocenecarboxylic acid, ferroceneacetic acid and ferrocenemethanol as mediators for ascorbic acid oxidation in aqueous solutions with low pH. The ascorbic acid coupled catalytically to three ferrocene derivatives exhibiting homogeneous second-order rate constants k(s), in the range 7.36 x 10(5) - 1.23 x 10(7). The catalytic oxidation peak current was linearly dependent on the ascorbic acid concentration and the linearity range obtained in the presence of ferrocenecarboxilic acid, having the largest second-order rate constant, was 5 x 10(-5) - 1.5 x 10(-3) M. The catalytic effect of the ferrocene derivatives on the electrochemical oxidation of ascorbic acid reduced the oxidation potential of ascorbic acid, resulting in the separation of the overlapping voltammograms of ascorbic acid and dopamine at the glassy carbon electrode in a mixture. This allowed the determination of ascorbic acid in the presence of dopamine. The calibration graph obtained by linear sweep voltammetry for ascorbic acid in the presence of dopamine of fixed concentration is linear in the range 5 x 10(-5) - 1.5 x 10(-3) M. In a similar manner, dopamine is determined in the presence of a high concentration of ascorbic acid, up to 100 times that of dopamine, using ferroceneacetic acid as the most suitable mediator for this purpose.     

Determination of ascorbic acid in human plasma with a view to stability using HPLC with UV detection

A method for the measurement of ascorbic acid using HPLC with UV detection and investigation into the protein precipitation techniques with regard to stability and recovery are described. The effectiveness of various protein precipitants was tested. Stability of ascorbic acid samples for analysis was investigated over 10 h. Ascorbic acid samples extracted with metaphosphoric acid were stable on a cooled autosampler (4 degrees C) for at least 10 h (with a decline of 1.8% for ascorbic acid solution and 2.8% for plasma). Perchloric acid as protein precipitant for ascorbic acid was unsuitable (with a decline of 36.0% for ascorbic acid solution and 7.3% for plasma). Analytical performance of this method is satisfactory. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 2.1% (n = 10) and 5.8% (n = 12), respectively. The calibration curve was linear with the tested range of 2.0-250.0 micromol/L. The recovery was 96.1% with CV = 4.8% (n = 6) and the LOD was 3 micromol/L. The preliminary reference ranges of ascorbic acid in a group of blood donors are 50.8 +/- 22.4 micromol/L. This assay is a highly sensitive and reproducible HPLC method for the determination of ascorbic acid in human plasma.     

Poly(ethylene oxide) facilitates the characterization of an affinity between strongly basic proteins with DNA by affinity capillary electrophoresis

In order to study kin17 protein-DNA affinity, we have developed a fast and reproducible capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis of a strongly basic protein: kin17 protein, using a nonpermanent coating based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to avoid adsorption of kin17. The coating procedure was optimized to provide a residual and stable electroosmotic flow (EOF = 5 x 10(-5) cm(2)/V x s), exhibiting RSD of 0.3% and excellent long-term stability. Good intraday and interday reproducibility of kin17 migration times (0.8 and 0.3% relative standard deviation (RSD), respectively) enabled us to consider that the recovery percentage obtained for kin17 protein was satisfactory (79%). The potential of this PEO-based coating procedure was evaluated for affinity CE method in order to study the affinity of kin17 protein for two single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) models: polydeoxyadenylic acid and polydeoxycytidilic acid (pdA and pdC). Binding constants (1.5 x 10(7) +/- 17% and 1.7 x 10(7) + 25%M(-1)) were evaluated assuming a 1:1 affinity between kin17 and pdA or pdC, respectively.