“Distant spin trapping”: a method for expanding the availability of spin trapping measurements

We describe here an alternative method in which the samples can be frozen and transported for EPR measurements at another site. Various spin adducts of DEPMPO were frozen and measured at 0 °C at various intervals after freezing to determine their stability in the frozen state. The radical adducts were generated by established methods and stored at two different temperatures; −196 °C (liquid nitrogen) and −80 °C (dry ice). The experiments were carried out in an aqueous solution with and without a model of reducing environment (2 mM ascorbate). The results indicate that it is feasible to store and transport spin adducts for subsequent analysis. We conclude that this approach, which we term “distant spin trapping”, makes it feasible to transport samples to another site for EPR measurements. This should significantly expand the ability to use spin trapping in biology and medicine.