Sensitive determination of glutathione in biological samples by capillary electrophoresis with green (515 nm) laser-induced fluorescence detection

•A new CE method for sensitive analysis of glutathione was developed.•Eosin-5-maleimide was used to label the GSH molecule.•An inexpensive 515 nm diode laser module was used for LIF detection.•Limit of detection was 0.2 nM and separation time less than 3 min.•The method has potential in the analysis of biological fluids.

A new sensitive capillary electrophoretic method with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was developed for quantitation of glutathione (GSH) in biological samples. Eosin-5-maleimide was used to label the GSH molecule and the formed conjugate was separated in a 15 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid electrolyte at pH 7.0 in less than 3 min. The conjugate was detected with an in-house built LIF system, utilizing an inexpensive 515 nm diode laser module. Studies were performed to optimize the derivatization (the ratio of reagent to analyte, the reaction time, pH, etc.) and separation conditions. Sensitive detection of GSH at concentrations as low as 0.18 nM was obtained. The method was applied in the analysis of biological fluids (exhaled breath condensate, saliva) and was found to be suitable for determination of GSH in these samples at trace levels below 1 nM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on determination of GSH in exhaled breath condensate by capillary electrophoresis (CE).