Photodegradation of fluoroquinolones in surface water and antimicrobial activity of the photoproducts.
The widespread presence of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) in natural ecosystems is a health hazard for humans and other living organisms. The role of sunlight in degrading FQs present in environmental waters has been studied. In particular, the photodegradation of four largely employed FQs, viz. Ciprofloxacin (CIP), Danofloxacin (DAN), Levofloxacin (LEV) and Moxifloxacin (MOX) has been studied in not tampered river water. Degradation rates have been investigated at ppb levels (20-50 μg L(-1)) under solar light, and the results have been commented critically. The products distribution has been studied by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis and structures have been attributed on the basis of their mass fragmentation spectra. Importantly from the environmental point of view, the (potentially toxic) FQ nucleus remained intact over the early stages of the degradation. Indeed, the photoproducts were proved to possess residual antibacterial activity, as shown from in vitro antibacterial activity tests against different well characterized human and environmental bacterial strains, carried out on the above FQs, as well as for Enrofloxacin (ENR) and Marbofloxacin (MAR).
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Michela
M
Sturini
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.speltini@unipv.it.
Andrea
A
Speltini
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Federica
F
Maraschi
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Luca
L
Pretali
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.profumo@unipv.it.
Antonella
A
Profumo
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Elisa
E
Fasani
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Angelo
A
Albini
Department of Morphological, Eidological and Clinical Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Brambilla 74, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Roberta
R
Migliavacca
Department of Morphological, Eidological and Clinical Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Brambilla 74, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Nucleo
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000737:chemistry*; D064704:Levofloxacin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry; D010782:Photolysis; D011804:Quinolines / Q000737:chemistry; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D011804:Quinolines; C068581:danofloxacin; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin