NMR study of per(3,6-anhydro) alpha cyclodextrin as a potential agent for the biological decontamination of lead

The ability of per(3,6-anhydro) alpha cyclodextrin(3,6CD) to capture lead from a preformed glutathion (GSH)-lead complex was investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Such a removal strongly depends on the nature and pH of the buffer used in the competition experiments. It was found that an almost complete removal of lead can be achieved at pH 5.5, especially when lead nitrate is used. The capture also strongly depends on the nature of the lead species as well as of the counter ion present in the medium. These observations imply that decontamination of lead by this process should be optimal under acidic conditions, i.e. in the acidic tractus (stomach). Conversely, lead decontamination at neutral pH was of poor efficiency or required a large excess of (3,6CD). This was particularly the case when human plasma was used as solvent.