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. 2011 Mar 1;94(1):16–96. doi: 10.3184/003685011X12982218769939

Electron Spin Resonance.: Part One: A Diagnostic Method in the Biomedical Sciences

Christopher J Rhodes 1,
PMCID: PMC10365421  PMID: 21548528

Abstract

A review is presented of some of the ways in which electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy may be useful to investigate systems of relevance to the biomedical sciences. Specifically considered are: spin-trapping in biological media; the determination of antioxidant efficiencies; lipid-peroxidation; the use of nitroxides as probes of metabolic activity in cells and as structural probes of cell-membranes; ESR coupled with materials for radiation-dosimetry; food- and drug-irradiation; studies of enzyme systems and of cyclodextrins; diagnosis of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis; measurement of oxidative stress in synovial tissue in preparation for joint replacement; determination of oxidative species during kidney dialysis; measurement of biological oxygen concentrations (oximetry); trapping in living cells of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide (NO); measurement of hydrogen peroxide; determination of drugs of abuse (opiates); ESR measurements of whole blood and as a means to determine the age of bloodstains for forensic analysis are surveyed, and also a determination of the aqueous volume of human sperm cells is described, among other topics.

Keywords: electron spin resonance, antioxidant efficiencies, lipid-peroxidation, structural probe of cell-membranes, diagnosis of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, biological fluids

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