A comparative study on gamma irradiation of unconjugated bilirubin in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions

Dilute aqueous and non-aqueous solutions of bilirubin were exposed to gamma radiation to examine the effects of ionizing radiation on the concentrations of a specimen of this nature. The ionising radiation emanated from a (137)Cs source, and was applied to 5.2 x 10(-2) mmol L(-1) solutions of the unconjugated specimen in 0.05 mol L(-1) aqueous NaOH and chloroform. Depletion of bilirubin after exposure was common to both solvents. Complete degradation was accomplished with doses in excess of 100 Gy. In the case of NaOH, it was found that the presence of molecular oxygen contributed more efficiently to the degradation process, than irradiation in air. When the experimental conditions were changed to nitrogen, the degradation process was suppressed. The sole by-product of merit originating from the NaOH work was the short-wavelength isomer of biliverdin, at 330 nm. In the case of chloroform, the exclusive product of interest was characterised as the long-wavelength isomer of biliverdin that absorbs in the broad region commencing from about 620 nm. The non-aqueous study was conducted in the presence and absence of molecular oxygen, with no significant changes in the results. Optimum production of the isomers in question occurred at a gamma dose of about 80 Gy. The general species of interest were monitored spectrophotometrically, and the results were treated mathematically to facilitate evaluation of the data. Our work represents the development of a facile gamma-ray method for the exclusive production of specific isomers of biliverdin, which are useful components in biosynthetic research.