Trifluoroacetylacetone (FAA) derivatives of
1,4-diaminobutane (
putrescine) (Pu) and 1,5-diaminopentane (
cadaverine) (CA) were prepared and characterized by elemental microanalysis, IR, and mass spectrometry.
Diamine derivatives were eluted from capillary gas chromatographic (CGC) column BP1 (12 m x 0.22 mm I.D.) or BP5 (50 m x 0.22 mm) with layer thickness 0.25 microm, using
nitrogen as a carrier gas and flame ionization detection (FID). A
solvent extraction procedure was developed for the extraction of Pu and CA from aqueous
solution with a linear calibration range 0-20 microg/0.2 ml of extract with a detection limit of 0.5-0.6 ng/injection. The method was applied for the determination of Pu and CA in the serum of five
cancer patients before and after
radiotherapy. The serum of two healthy persons was also analyzed for Pu and CA contents. Pu and CA concentrations were found within the range 1.16-3.96 microg/ml and 0.88-1.46 microg/ml in
cancer patients as compared to 0.11-0.16 microg/ml and 0.06-0.075 microg/ml respectively in healthy persons with a coefficient of variation (CV) within 0.62-5.47%. Pu and CA concentrations decreased on
radiotherapy in
cancer patients, but were much higher than in healthy persons.