Preparation and validation of Chitosan-phthalocyanine complex - absorber of mutagens and carcinogens -

Phthalocyanine, a water soluble porphyrin derivative and dye, is known to inhibit the mutagenic and carcinogenic actions of compounds having polycyclic structures, e.g. heterocyclic amines. There is evidence that this adsorbent effect shows by a complex formation between the porphyrin-like structure of phthalocyanine and the planar molecular surfaces of theses compounds. That phthalocyanine can form an insoluble material when mixed with chitosan, a polyglucosamine, and that the solid chitosan-phthalocyanine, named Eco-Blue, thus prepared can efficiently adsorb polycyclic mutagenic compounds. The adsorption was experimented by UV/VIS spectrometry. The adsorbent effects of mutagens and carcinogens was identified by Gas chromatography (GC) and Ames Test. The adsorbed polycyclic mutagens were elutable with buffer, but only to small extents. Chitosan-phthalocyanine may be expected to be useful as an adsorbent against polycyclic mutagens and carcinogens.