Determination of Gold and Platinum Traces in Biological Materials as a Part of a Multi-Element Radiochemical Activation Analysis System

For the analysis of human tissues for traces of gold and platinum-being used as constituents of therapeutic agents-a radiochemical neutron activation method has been developed. The radiochemical separation involves the selective removal of radioactive gold-formed by the reaction 197 Au(n, γ) 198 Au and the reaction 198 Pt(n, γ) 199 Pt 199 Au-as small metallic nuggets. The determination of gold and platinum is carried out as a part of an automated multi-element radiochemical separation scheme, allowing the determination of about 20 additional trace elements, and thus giving the possibility to study interelement relations. The analytical characteristics of the determination are evaluated. Gold and platinum levels measured in Bowen's Kale, NBS Bovine Liver and NBS Orchard Leaves are presented. Values are shown for gold, platinum, and 20 other trace elements in various healthy and cancerous tissues from patients treated with cis-platin. (Cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum II).