The properties of solid Zn(II)-amino acid complexes in the form of suspensions

An investigation was made into the experimental conditions for the formation of poorly soluble complexes of the divalent Zinc(II) combined with the following selected amino acids: tyrosine, tryptophan, cysteine, histidine, and alanine, in the form of suspensions for parenteral administration. The number of Zn(II)-binding sites in the amino acid (n) as well as the amino acid affinity to Zn(II) (Ka), were determined. Cysteine was found to have the highest number of Zn(II)-binding sites--3, whereas alanine the lowest--1. In the conditions described herein, Zn(II) amino acid complexes of diverse stability (durability) were obtained. The analysis of the kinetics of the binding revealed that the most stable complexes were those formed by Zn(II) in combination with tryptophan (Ka = 405.78 microM(-1) +/- 12.17), and with tyrosine (Ka = 343.88 microM +/- 22.35); whereas the least stable complexes were those formed by Zn(II) in combination with histidine (Ka = 29.90 microM +/- 4.78), and with alanine (Ka = 13.0 microM(-1) +/- 1.04). Cysteine formed complexes of intermediate stability (Ka = 168.53 microM(-1) +/- 12.36). The stability ofthe Zn(II) amino acid complexes obtained was conditioned by both the molecular weight (P = 0.033) of the amino acid and its isoelectric point (P < 0.001).