A novel method for the analysis of
trace element chemical speciation at parts per billion (ppb) levels in
wound fluid samples both contributes to the fundamental inorganic biochemistry of the healing process and permits improved treatments. Potentiometric Stripping Analysis in combination with
acid digestion has been used to quantify the total
copper and
zinc levels in a series of 0.5 ml samples of fluid obtained from
surgical wounds. Further, the degree of blood contamination has been investigated using visible spectroscopy. The prevailing chemical speciation (chemical forms) of these total concentrations of
copper and
zinc amongst low molecular mass
ligands in
wound fluid has been investigated by computer modelling using JESS, the Joint Expert Speciation System. The model, involving 38 components, generates in the region of 3500 individual low molecular mass complexes including
copper,
zinc,
iron,
calcium and
manganese species, and predicts that the majority of low molecular mass (lmm)
copper complexes are electrically net-neutral, whilst those of
zinc are predominantly charged. Further studies indicate that supplementing the concentrations of
histidine and
tryptophan may increase the net-neutral
zinc fraction, the optimum effect being achieved at pH=7.4. This may be important in transporting
zinc into healing cells.