SIZE-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF DEXTRAN SULFATE IN RAT SERUM

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of dextran sulf ate in rat serum has been developed. The analysis is suitable for quan titation of the drug and for monitoring molecular mass changes occurri ng during biotransformation. Dextran sulfate is resolved from higher m olecular mass serum components by high-performance aqueous size-exclus ion chromatography. The method has been validated for the direct injec tion of serum. Sensitive detection is achieved by post-column reaction of the polyanionic drug with the dye 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue. Comp onents of serum which inhibit complex formation are separated chromato graphically from dextran sulfate. Absorbance of the metachromatic comp lex is monitored at 525 nm.