Analytical tools and biomonitoring for carcinogens in complex mixtures

Two approaches are described for the analysis and biomonitoring of complex mixtures: (a) activity-guided fractionation of pyrolysed opium followed by spectroscopic determination of molecular structure and (b) trapping of possibly genotoxic metabolites by a series of microencapsulated, recoverable, synthetic macromolecular targets within the milieu of the gastrointestinal tract. Opium pyrolysis was shown to produce (principally from morphine) a series of hydroxyphenanthrenes of novel structure having activity not only in the S. typhimurium used as a guide, but also in a variety of in vitro and in vivo test systems. Many analytical tools were used together for separation, structure determination and activity monitoring, and their relative merits and overall strategy are discussed. The microcapsules have been shown to trap carcinogens, nitrosating agents, cross-linking agents and aldehydes. Their trapping of a model carcinogen in vivo is modulated by components of human diets. Development of these microcapsules for detecting endogenous carcinogens and their sources is discussed with reference to the type of target and analytical tools that may be appropriate.