New biosensor for superoxide radical used to evidence molecules of biomedical and pharmaceutical interest having radical scavenging properties

A superoxide dismutase biosensor was used to determine the antioxidant prop erties of scavenger molecules and the antiradical activity of healthy and d iseased human kidney tissues; this biosensor is based on the use of the enz yme superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is physically entrapped in a kappa-ca rrageenan gel membrane, and of a transducer consisting of an amperometric h ydrogen peroxide electrode. Several compounds with scavenging properties we re tested, including some commercial drugs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.