Biochemical speciation analysis by hyphenated techniques Original Research Article

The elucidation of mechanisms that govern the essentiality and toxicity of trace elements in living organisms is critically dependent upon the possibility of the identification, characterization and determination of chemical forms of these elements involved in life processes. The recent progress and the state-of-the-art of biochemical species-selective trace element analysis are critically evaluated with particular emphasis on the use of techniques combining the high selectivity of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with the elemental or molecular specificity of mass spectrometry [using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or electrospray ionization (ESI)]. The potential and limitations of hyphenated techniques as a tool for speciation of metals and metalloids in biological materials is discussed using a number of examples drawn from the latest research in the authors’ laboratory.