Simultaneous assay of hypoxanthine, xanthine and allopurinol by high-performance liquid chromatography and activation of immobilized xanthine oxidase as an enzyme reactor

A selective and sensitive assay of substrates (hypoxanthine, xanthine and allopurinol) of xanthine oxidase by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with the use of immobilized enzyme reactors is described. These compounds were oxidized by immobilized xanthine oxidase and produced hydrogen peroxide, which was determined fluorometrically using immobilized peroxidase and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. The detection limits of hypoxanthine, xanthine and allopurinol were approximately 50, 120 and 130 pg per injection, respectively. Immobilized xanthine oxidase inhibited by oxipurinol during the assay was reactivated by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and could be used for a long period without a significant activity loss. These methods were applied to plasma and urine samples.