Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

, Volume 410, Issue 11, pp 2739–2749 | Cite as

Specific and robust ion chromatographic determination of hypothiocyanite in saliva samples

  • Harald Below
  • Romy Baguhl
  • Wiebke Geßner
  • Axel Kramer
  • Elke Below
  • Heike Kahlert
  • Alexander Welk
Research Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

The enzymatic system in saliva, consisting of salivary peroxidase (SPO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and thiocyanate (SCN−), produces hypothiocyanite (OSCN−) as a high effective antibacterial compound. OSCN− is of great importance for the natural non-specific antibacterial resistance in the oral cavity. However, no analytical method currently exists to selectively quantify OSCN− in saliva samples. A robust and specific analytical method for the determination of OSCN− was developed based on ion chromatography with combined UV and electrochemical detection. Calibration was achieved by calculating a derived calibration factor based on the known ratio of molar extinction coefficients of SCN− and OSCN−. Thus, the specific quantification of OSCN− in saliva samples is possible, as demonstrated here. The median value of 200 saliva samples was determined to be 0.56 mg L−1 (median), with a maximum of 3.9 mg L−1; the minimum value was below the detection limit (< 0.09 mg L−1). The recovery rate in individual saliva samples was 95 ± 8%.

Keywords

Hypothiocyanite Thiocyanate Ion chromatography Saliva peroxidase 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund: V-630-S-137-2012/024, V-630-F-137-2012/023, V-630-VB243-2012/022 (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Ministry for Economics, Employment and Tourism/Bmp Bulk Medicines & Pharmaceuticals Production GmbH) and by University Medicine Greifswald.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary material

216_2018_954_MOESM1_ESM.pdf (658 kb)
ESM 1 (PDF 658 kb)

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Harald Below
    • 1
  • Romy Baguhl
    • 1
  • Wiebke Geßner
    • 1
  • Axel Kramer
    • 1
  • Elke Below
    • 2
  • Heike Kahlert
    • 3
  • Alexander Welk
    • 4
  1. 1.Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineUniversity Medicine GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
  2. 2.Institute of Forensic ScienceUniversity Medicine GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
  3. 3.Institute of BiochemistryUniversity GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
  4. 4.Department of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology and Endodontology, Dental SchoolUniversity Medicine GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany

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