CEINT Protocol: Reactive Oxygen Species

Measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) rarely is a straightforward process. Due to the transient nature of the molecules, measurement techniques are often indirect and require careful standardization. There are techniques that are more prominent in literature (e.g. EPR) but require access to more specialized equipment that is not always available or convenient for measurement of ROS in situ. For this reason “benchtop” techniques that can be simply applied in every CEINT lab are emphasized here.

A broad definition of ROS would include all molecules that contain oxygen and a free radical. However, in this case the definition is narrowed to three predominate species discussed in the literature: singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide (O2•-), and hydroxyl radical (OH).