A comprehensive experimental study of industrial,domestic and environmental interferences with the forensic luminol test for blood

This paper presents the ?rst comprehensive and quantitative study of substances that interfere with the forensic luminol test for blood. Two hundred and ?fty substances have been selected on the basis of modern lifestyles and of contiguity with crime scenes. The intensity of the chemiluminescence produced by each substance has been measured relative to that of haemoglobin and the peak wavelength shift has also been determined. The following is a short list of nine substances that produce chemiluminescence intensities comparable with that of haemoglobin: turnips, parsnips, horseradishes, commercial bleach (NaClO), copper metal, some furniture polishes, some enamel paints, and some interior fabrics in motor vehicles. Care needs to be taken when the luminol test for blood is used in the presence of these substances. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The forensic use of luminol chemiluminescence to detect traces of blood inside motor vehicles.

The luminol test for blood was carried out on a set of interior fittings and surfaces inside three different makes of modern motor car. The surfaces and fittings provided little interference with the test for blood, although there was some detectable chemiluminescence when the test was applied to blood-free material from a seatbelt, a boot-lining and a gear-knob. The case with which haemoglobin samples could be washed off interior car surfaces was also examined for seat fabrics, carpets, roof-linings and various other plastic interior surfaces. A standard wash with water alone was not very effective and removed only ca. 50% of the haemoglobin. A standard wash with soapy water or with a proprietary multipurpose car cleaner removed ca. 90% of the haemoglobin from the tested surface. The effect of high car interior temperatures on haemoglobin samples that were subsequently used in the luminol test was also examined. It was shown that the sensitivity of the luminol test was not decreased but was increased by the prior heating of a haemoglobin sample. This effect was attributed to the thermal conversion of haemoglobin to the more brighter catalyst for chemiluminescence, methaemoglobin. The enthalpy of this conversion in the solid state was found to be 14.1 kJ/mol.     

Effect of adherence to plastic on peripheral blood monocyte and alveolar macrophage chemiluminescence

The chemiluminescence of peripheral blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages was determined in the presence of luminol and lucigenin, either before or after the cell adherence to the luminometer curvettes. In the case of monocytes, cell adherence induces an increase of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and has almost no effect on the lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. However, it shows a strong inhibition of the lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence and almost no effect on luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, in the case of alveolar macrophages. These results show that adhesion to plastic alters the metabolic burst of both monocytes and alveolar macrophages. Although the mechanisms are poorly understood, they seem to be related to the modifications that take place during the differentiation of peripheral monocytes to alveolar macrophages.     

Potential of the luminol reaction in the sensitive detection of pesticide residues by flow injection analysis.

This study presents the first analytical application of the luminol chemiluminescence (CL) reaction for the sensitive detection of carbamate residues. Some experiments have been carried out to check the influence of the presence of traces of a N-methylcarbamate (carbaryl) on the CL emission produced from the oxidation of luminol using different oxidants, showing a significant enhancing effect on the CL emission when the oxidation of luminol is produced by potassium permanganate in alkaline medium, this enhancement being proportional to the carbaryl concentration. This fact has permitted the establishment of a sensitive chemiluminescence flow-injection (CL-FIA) method for the direct determination of carbaryl. The optimization of instrumental and chemical variables influencing the CL response has been carried out by applying experimental designs. Under the optimal conditions, the CL intensity was linear for a carbaryl concentration over the range 5-100 ng/mL with a detection limit of 4.9 ng/mL. This luminol-KMnO4-based FIA-CL system in basic medium shows an easy, fast and cheap alternative detection mode for the analysis of carbaryl residues in environmental water samples.     

Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes: the nature of oxidants that directly induce luminol oxidation

The present work deals with the reaction pathways, including the formation of hydroxyl radicals and chloroamines, which lead to luminol chemiluminescence caused by hypochlorite generation in a suspension of stimulated rabbit polymorphnonuclear leukocyte. Luminol-enhanced (0.02 mM) chemiluminescence of leukocytes stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate does not change in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide at moderate concentrations (0.02-2.6 mM) at which it must show the specific ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. It suggests that no generation of hydroxyl radical with the participation of hypochlorite and superoxide anion takes place after the stimulation of polymorphnonuclear leukocytes. A high dimethyl sulfoxide concentrations (260 mM) a significant fall in chemiluminescence intensity, due to direct interaction of the scavenger with hypochlorite, is observed. Chemiluminescence intensity rose if luminol was added to a leukocyte suspension preliminary stimulated for 10 min. The effect results from the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide but not chloroamines. Exogenic amino acids and taurin at high concentrations (3-15 mM) weaken the chemiluminescence. The data obtained suggest that chemiluminescence in the system studied results predominantly from the direct initial reaction of hypochlorite with luminol. The chemiluminescence intensity is enhanced by hydrogen peroxide via the oxidation of luminol oxidation products.     

The effect of weak magnetic fields on the chemiluminescence of human blood

Exposure of heparinized human venous blood that was diluted with a phosphate buffer to a combination of a static magnetic field (42 µT) and a weak (amplitude range 108–3440 nT) variable low-frequency (1, 4.4, and 16.5 Hz, ratio of amplitudes 6: 1: 1.6, respectively) magnetic field collinear to the static magnetic field enhanced blood chemiluminescence that was induced by the addition of luminol or lucigenin at physiological temperature. The free-radical scavenger edaravone (MCI-186) and apocynin, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, reduced the intensity of blood chemiluminescence and alleviated the effects of the magnetic fields.     

Chemiluminescence of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes-luminol system in the presence of biogenic chloramines

It was demonstrated that N-chlorphenylalanine and other chloramines strengthen sharply chemiluminescence in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PML)-luminol system without special activation of cells. The intensity of chemiluminescence is higher than the intensity of luminol solution emission induced by N-chlorphenylalanine. But it was nearly equal to chemiluminescence intensity of a mixture of luminol, N-chlorphenylalanine and 20-30 nM H2O2. The increase in chemiluminescence in the PML-luminol system in the presence of N-chlorphenylalanine is not related to PML activation but is the result of direct oxidation of luminol by N-chlorphenylalanine. Chloramine derivatives of amino acids and taurine at final concentrations of 0.01-0.1 mM do not suppress luminol chemiluminescence in suspension of PML stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. At the same time, hypochlorite inhibits sharply luminol emission induced by stimulated cells.     

Variables in xanthine oxidase-initiated luminol chemiluminescence: Implications for chemiluminescence measurements in biological systems

We tested the effects of generally used chemiluminescence inhibitors on an example of luminol chemiluminescence elicited by xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine system, and attempted to assess their capabilities in discovering the reaction pathways leading to chemiluminescence. Luminol itself is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor and its concentration affects the reaction mechanism. Maximal chemiluminescence response was observed at luminol concentration inhibiting urate production. Chemiluminescence was totally inhibited by superoxide dismutase, the inhibition by catalase depended on luminol concentration. Ferricytochrome c, a detector of superoxide, either stimulated or inhibited chemiluminescence in a concentration-dependent manner. Chemiluminescence was highly stimulated by peroxidases. A pronounced inhibition of chemiluminescence was caused by chelators; 1 mm desferal and 0.01 mm diethyldithiocarbamate. It is suggested that measurement of luminol chemiluminescence is not a suitable method for discrimination among individual reactive oxygen species and their quantitative determination in biological systems.     

Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes: The nature of oxidants that directly cause luminol oxidation

In this study, we investigated the pathways (including the formation of hydroxyl radicals and chloramines) leading to luminol chemiluminescence induced by hypochlorite generated in a suspension of stimulated rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Chemiluminescence of leukocytes stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate, which was enhanced by luminol (0.02 mM), did not change in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide at moderate concentrations (0.02–2.6 mM), under which the latter should manifest the specific ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. This indicates that stimulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is not accompanied by the generation of hydroxyl radicals with the involvement of superoxide anion and hypochlorite synthesized by myeloperoxidase. At high concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (260 mM), chemiluminescence markedly declined because dimethyl sulfoxide directly reacts with hypochlorite. The luminol emission intensity considerably increased after its addition to a suspension of leukocytes that were preliminarily stimulated for 10 min. This effect was caused by the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide rather than chloramines. Exogenous amino acids and taurine at high concentrations (3–15 mM) quench chemiluminescence. All these data indicate that chemiluminescence in the system studied is largely determined by the direct initial reaction of hypochlorite with luminol, the emission intensity increasing as a result of oxidation of luminol transformation products by hydrogen peroxide.     

The influence of dioxygen on luminol chemiluminescence

Assays of peroxy compounds are commonly performed after chromatographic separation of analysed mixtures. In high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), solvent reservoirs are sparged by helium or inline vacuum‐degassed in order to control the compressibility of the solvents for efficient pumping. In this study, we investigated the influence of degassing the reaction solution on the light output of the hemin‐catalyzed luminol oxidation by various oxidants. We found that, when t‐butyl hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, n‐butyl hydroperoxide, iodosobenzene and iodobenzene diacetate were used as oxidants, the luminol chemiluminescence was lowered by 50–70% compared with an equilibrated and degassed solution. The opposite effect was observed when dibenzoyl peroxide and 3‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid were used as oxidants, as the chemiluminescence increased by approximately 20–30%. The reduced chemiluminescence was explained based on the known role of dioxygen in luminol chemiluminescence. The enhancement of chemiluminescence was rationalized by suggesting an alternative mechanism of luminol oxidation valid for peroxyacids and diacyl peroxides in which the reaction of a peroxyacid anion with the diazaquinone led to light emission with a higher quantum yield than the usual path, which is suppressed by the removal of dioxygen from the reaction solution. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Crinum macowanii bulb extracts and the application of these materials in blood detections at crime scenes

We here in report the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a Crinum macowanii bulb water extract. The as‐synthesized AuNPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and a zeta potential‐sizer. The results showed that the as‐synthesized AuNPs were crystalline and mostly spherical in shape with a small mixture of triangular, tetrahedral, hexagonal, octagonal, and diamond shapes. The as‐synthesized AuNPs together with those synthesized by conventional methods were subsequently used as enhancers for the luminol signal in blood detection. It was noted that the AuNPs synthesized from the Crinum macowanii bulb water extract could enhance the chemiluminescence signal for blood detection by luminol to the same extent as AuNPs prepared by conventional methods. Furthermore, both types of AuNPs served as fluorescence enhancers for blood detection when luminol was replaced with the bulb water extract.     

Quantitative analysis of CL-20 explosive by smartphone-based chemiluminescence method

A new smartphone-based chemiluminescence method has been introduced for the quantitative analysis of CL-20 (Hexanitroazaisowuertzitan) explosive. The solvent mixture, oxidizer agent, and concentration of the reactants were optimized using statistical procedures. CL-20 explosive showed a quenching effect on the chemiluminescence intensity of the luminol−NaClO reaction in the solvent mixture of DMSO/H₂O. A smartphone was used as a detector to record the light intensity of chemiluminescence reaction as a video file. The recorded video file was converted to an analytical signal as intensity luminescence–time curve by a written code in MATLAB software. Dynamic range and limit of detection of the proposed method were obtained 2.0–240.0 and 1.1 mg⋅L⁻¹, respectively, in optimized concentrations 1.5 × 10⁻³ mol⋅L⁻¹ luminol and 1.0 × 10⁻² mol⋅L⁻¹ NaClO. Precursors TADB, HBIW, and TADNIW in CL-20 explosive synthesis did not show interference in measurement the CL-20 purity. The analysis of CL-20 spiked samples of soil and water indicated the satisfactory ability of the method in the analysis of real samples. The interaction of CL-20 molecules and OCl⁻ ions is due to quench of chemiluminescence reaction of the luminol−NaClO.     

Cytochrome c-catalyzed oxidation of organic molecules by hydrogen peroxide.

Cytochrome c catalyzed the oxidation of various electron donors in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), including 2-2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AP), and luminol. With ferrocytochrome c, oxidation reactions were preceded by a lag phase corresponding to the H2O2-mediated oxidation of cytochrome c to the ferric state; no lag phase was observed with ferricytochrome c. However, brief preincubation of ferricytochrome c with H2O2 increased its catalytic activity prior to progressive inactivation and degradation. Superoxide (O2-) and hydroxyl radical (.OH) were not involved in this catalytic activity, since it was not sensitive to superoxide dismutase (SOD) or mannitol. Free iron released from the heme did not play a role in the oxidative reactions as concluded from the lack of effect of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. Uric acid and tryptophan inhibited the oxidation of ABTS, stimulation of luminol chemiluminescence, and inactivation of cytochrome c. Our results are consistent with an initial activation of cytochrome c by H2O2 to a catalytically more active species in which a high oxidation state of an oxo-heme complex mediates the oxidative reactions. The lack of SOD effect on cytochrome c-catalyzed, H2O2-dependent luminol chemiluminescence supports a mechanism of chemiexcitation whereby a luminol endoperoxide is formed by direct reaction of H2O2 with an oxidized luminol molecule, either luminol radical or luminol diazoquinone.     

Chemiluminescence study of active oxygen species produced by TiO2 photocatalytic reaction.

Two chemiluminescence approaches have been used for study of active oxygen species produced by the TiO2 photocatalytic reaction. One is based on flow injection analysis (FIA)-luminol chemiluminescence (CL); another is a time-resolved CL method. In the FIA-CL experiment, an UV-illuminated TiO2 suspension and water were passed into a mixing cell by two separate flow lines. Luminol solution was injected into the water flow line at different times. The injected luminol reacted with active oxygen species generated by the TiO2 photocatalytic reaction in a mixing coil and produced CL. It was found that the maximum CL was detected at the first injection of luminol. CL intensity decreased with time of injection. When the luminol was injected after 5 min, the CL intensity was almost unchanged. Addition of scavengers of active oxygen species indicated that the CL produced early in the 5 min was caused by O2- and H2O2, while CL after 5 min was only from H2O2. In the time-resolved CL, the third harmonic wavelength of Nd:YAG laser (355 nm) was used as a UV light source, and CL was detected by a PMT and recorded in a millisecond time scale using a digital oscilloscope. It was found that CL induced by the photocatalytic reaction increased with concentration of the TiO2 suspension. Scavengers of active oxygen species of *OH, O2- and H2O2 were added to study the involvement of the active oxygen species.     

Comparison of the effects of superoxide dismutase and cytochrome c on luminol chemiluminescence produced by xanthine oxidase-catalyzed reactions

Superoxide dismutase (superoxide: superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.15.1.1) (SOD) and ferricytochrome c are used to check the effects on luminol chemiluminescence induced by a xanthine or hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase/oxygen system. Luminol chemiluminescence has been attributed to superoxide anion radical (O2.-) in this system. From kinetic studies on the light intensity vs. time curves it is demonstrated that addition of SOD into the system does not affect the mechanism of O2.- generation, whilst ferricytochrome c dramatically alters the time-course of the reaction. This is interpreted as the effect of cytochrome c redox cycling by reaction with H2O2, modifying oxy-radical generation in the reaction medium. Also, an alternative mechanism for luminol chemiexcitation is proposed under certain experimental conditions.     

Effect of High-Pressure Helium on Latex-Induced Activated Chemiluminescence of Human Blood Leucocytes

High-pressure helium reduces the latex-induced activated chemiluminescence of diluted human blood. This effect is more noticeable, when lucigenin rather than luminol is used as the activator of chemiluminescence. The effect lessens in the presence of Mg²⁺ but not Ca²⁺. The data suggest the association of this effect with actin polymerization in leucocytes phagocytosing the latex particles.     

Enhancement and inhibition of luminol chemiluminescence by phenolic acids

We explored the behaviour of a series of phenolic acids used as enhancers or inhibitors of luminol chemiluminescence by three different methods to determine if behaviour was associated with phenolic acid structure and redox character. All the phenolic acids inhibited chemiluminescence when hexacyanoferrate(III) was reacted with the phenolic acids before adding luminol. The redox character of these compounds was clearly related to structure. When hexacyanoferrate(III)-luminol-O₂ chemiluminescence was initiated by phenolic acid-luminol mixtures some phenolic acids behaved as enhancers of chemiluminescence, and others as inhibitors. We propose a mechanism to explain these findings. We found direct relationships between the redox character of the phenolic acids and the enhancement or inhibition of the chemiluminescence of the luminol–H₂O₂–peroxidase system and we propose mechanism to explain these phenomena.     

Effects of lysophospholipids on the generation of reactive oxygen species by fMLP‐ and PMA‐stimulated human neutrophils

In this study, the effects of exogenous lysophospholipids—lysophosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylserine—on the kinetics of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by human neutrophils are described. The ROS production by human neutrophils was monitored by luminol‐amplified chemiluminescence after cell stimulation with the chemotactic tripeptide, fMLP, or with the phorbol ester, PMA. The interaction of lysophospholipids with the membrane of human neutrophils was additionally tested by mass spectrometry. Lysophosphatidylcholine showed the most pronounced effect on the chemiluminescence pattern, as well as the intensity of the fMLP and PMA‐stimulated cells, whereas lysophosphatidic acid showed a slight priming effect when fMLP was used for stimulation. In the case of fMLP‐stimulated cells, lysophosphatidylcholine inhibited the first phase and enhanced the second phase of chemiluminescence, whereas the chemiluminescence of PMA‐stimulated neutrophils was inhibited in a concentration‐dependent manner. We conclude that lysophosphatidylcholine is able to interact with protein kinase C‐dependent signalling pathways leading to NADPH oxidase activation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of luminol chemiluminescence induced by the catalytic action of myeloperoxidase

The effects of pH, luminol myeloperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide concentrations on the intensity of luminol chemiluminescence induced by myeloperoxidase catalysis were investigated. It was found that the intensity of luminescence is proportional to the enzyme concentration (up to 8.10(-8) M) and reaches the saturation level at higher enzyme concentrations. The dependence of chemiluminescence intensity on [H2O2] is bell-shaped: at H2O2 concentrations above 1.10(-4) M the luminescence is inhibited with a maximum at neutral values of pH. Luminol at concentrations above 5.10(-5) M inhibits this process. It was demonstrated that the effects of singlet oxygen, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals on the chemiluminescence reaction are insignificant. Luminol oxidation in the course of the myeloperoxidase reaction is induced by hypochlorite.     

Chemiluminescence of enterococci isolates from freshwater

All Enterococcus spp., isolated from environmental water samples (n=81), emitted a high chemiluminescence signal in the presence of luminol (10(-2) M). Kinetic studies of chemiluminescence show a close correlation between chemiluminescence and growth curves during the exponential phase, with a maximum chemiluminescence reached just before bacterial growth entered in the stationary phase. On the other hand, genera closely related to Enterococcus such as Streptococcus or Lactococcus produced a very weak chemiluminescent signal. Chemiluminescence of enterococci could therefore offer a rapid test, in aiding the identification of the genus Enterococcus and in the survey of the microbiological quality of water supplies.