Determination of the Interaction of Arsenic and Human Serum Albumin by Online Microdialysis Coupled to LC with Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Study on the stoichiometry and affinity of the arsenicals bound to HSA is an important step toward a better understanding of arsenic toxic effects. After incubation of As^III or As^V with HSA at the physiological conditions (pH 7.43 and 37 °C), the free arsenicals and arsenic-HSA complexes were separated and detected by the combined techniques of microdialysis and liquid chromatography with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (MD–LC–HGAFS). The decrease of As^III peak response rather than As^V indicated that HSA reacted with As^III but not As^V. The binding plots indicated that the binding between HSA and As^III was in Scatchard pattern when the concentration ratios of As^III to HSA were ≤1:1. The strong binding sites (n ₁) were 1.6 and the stability constant (K ₁) was 1.54 × 10⁶ M^?1. When the concentration ratios of As^III to HSA were >1:1, the binding was in Plasvento pattern with the stability constant K ₂ ? 0 and no specific binding of As^III with HSA. On the contrary, As^V did not show binding with HSA. The results showed that As^III reacted with HSA more readily than As^V, which provides a chemical basis for arsenic toxicity.