Attomole voltammetric determination of metallothionein

Number of authors have concerned with electrochemical analysis of metallothionein. Recently new electroanalytical techniques enabling determination of MT at picomole level has been suggested. The aim of the presented work was to show advantages and disadvantages of the different electrochemical procedures, which are commonly used for the detection of MT—(i) cyclic voltammetry, (ii) differential pulse voltammetry, and (iii) Brdicka reaction. Primarily we aimed on improvement of the mentioned techniques. Using of reducing agent (tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine) and combination of the mentioned method with adsorptive transfer stripping technique (AdTS) were the main improvements of the voltammetric method. The detection limits of metallothionein measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and DPV Brdicka reaction were 0.5 pmol, 4 fmol and 10 amol, respectively. In addition AdTS DPV Brdicka reaction was used for the determination of metallothionein in human blood serum of 11-year-old girl, which were lead poisoned.