Publication details
Determination of sarcosine as a potential tumour marker by liquid chromatography with coulometric detection
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| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Sarcosine is naturally occurring non-toxic amino acid soluble in water. Sarcosine originates in liver and kidneys as intermediate of choline metabolism and newly can be considered as a urine-marker of early stages of tumours. The aim of this study was to suggest fast and rapid method to determine sarcosine in human urine. Primarily, we optimized a chromatographic method which included a reversed phase chromatographic column (C18) and proper mobile phases. As non-polar component of mobile phase we used methanol and we decided to use trifluoroacetic acid (80 mM) as ion pairing agent with regards on polar character of sarcosine molecule. Thus we were able to separate sarcosine (RT: 4.72 min) from other molecules as uric acid and others mainly occurring polar matters in urine. Identification and determination was done by spiking and by method of standard addition of sarcosine to the sample of urine. We were able to determine ultra low sarcosine concentrations as well because we used four-channel coulometric electrochemical detector CoulArray (the potential of 900 mV). Limit of detection of this method was around 1 pg/ml and time of one analysis was 30 minutes. |