022-0222412-2403 Oligoelements in Biological Matrices and Multielement Profile Quality Control

THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND SPORTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA (2007-2010)

Principal Investigator: Nikola Ivičić

SUMMARY
The accurate trace element (TE) analysis of various biological matrices (hair, blood, mails, other tissue) depends upon the complete decomposition of such a matrice. Under the standard working conditions, such destruction is possible with teperatures below 600 C, but many of the metabolicaly important ET would start evaporating above 400 C. Difficulties associated with specific problems, and this problems only amounts with the multielement profile (MP) simultaneus ET analysis. The hallmarks of quality ET analysis are the proper decoposition of the biological matrice in a several different  ways, analyses by the different analytical methods and comparison of the results against the certified standards. In this Project it means comparison of the analytical results acquired by the (1) differential pulsed anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), (2) electro thermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS), and  (3) inductvely coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Every of them has it advantages and drawbaks: DPASV is very sensitive but slow and critically dependent upon the buffer system; ET-AAS depends upon the complete destruction of the biological matrice and requires a separate lamp for every ET under the consideration; whereas ICP-MS  is the method of choice today. Since we at IMI dont hawe an ICP-MS, we collaborate with the Center for Biotic Medicine (CBM), Moscow, Russia. In our previous reserch we were able to compare all three methods for quality control of molybdenum analysis in the human blood. Our working hypothesis is that the potential differences in the MP of ET in various diseases would be first reflected un the metabolic changes of the less well studied ET of very low concentration in our body. Therefore, we envisage introduction of the new methods for analyzing lanthanum (La), molybdenum (Mo), scandium (Sc), and tin (Sn),beyound those already in use for Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu in the biological samples collected in the other two Projects of this Programme. The mercury would be analyzed in collaboration with the EERC, Grand Forks, ND USA supported by the NIH research grant on idiorrythmic Hg exposure for the assessment of Hg toxicity in continuous low and sporadic high Hg exposure. The DPASV ET analytical results would be compared with those gained by the ET-AAS and ICP-MS.