Characterisation and evaluation of the use of membrane mimetic agents to amplify chemiluminescence from the lucigenin hydrogen peroxide reaction system

The 10,10′-dimethyl-9,9′-biacridinium dinitrate (lucigenin) - hydrogen peroxide - N-methylacridone chemiluminescence (CL) system was characterised in different types of membrane mimetic agents and homogeneous solvents, and the effects of various membrane mimetic agents on the lucigenin - hydrogen peroxide light reaction were assessed. Aqueous solutions of the surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, 3-(N-dodecyl-/V,/V- dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulphonate, polyoxyethylene(23)dodecanol, dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin enhanced the CL intensity by factors of up to 3.4,2.5,4,1.6,2.3,14 and 12.6, respectively. A lowering of the CL emission was observed in the presence of all anionic surfactant media examined. The various experimental variables that influence the magnitude of the CL enhancements or reductions are briefly described, and the advantages and limitations of these agents as CL enhancers are discussed. The alterations in the CL intensity are rationalised in terms of the effect of these different membrane mimetic agents on the rate of the reaction and/or excitation efficiency. Lastly, the analytical implications and possible advantages of using such membrane mimetic agents in lucigenin chemiluminescent assays are discussed.