Application of Fenton, photo-Fenton, solar photo-Fenton, and UV/H2O2 to degradation of the antineoplastic agent mitoxantrone and toxicological evaluation

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2013 Apr;20(4):2352-61. doi: 10.1007/s11356-012-1110-y. Epub 2012 Aug 12.

Abstract

In the present study, selected advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)-namely, photo-Fenton (with Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and potassium ferrioxalate-FeOx-as iron sources), solar photo-Fenton, Fenton, and UV/H2O2-were investigated for degradation of the antineoplastic drug mitoxantrone (MTX), frequently used to treat metastatic breast cancer, skin cancer, and acute leukemia. The results showed that photo-Fenton processes employing Fe(III) and FeOx and the UV/H2O2 process were most efficient for mineralizing MTX, with 77, 82, and 90% of total organic carbon removal, respectively. MTX probably forms a complex with Fe(III), as demonstrated by voltammetric and spectrophotometric measurements. Spectrophotometric titrations suggested that the complex has a 2:1 Fe(3+):MTX stoichiometric ratio and a complexation constant (K) of 1.47 × 10(4) M(-1), indicating high MTX affinity for Fe(3+). Complexation partially inhibits the involvement of iron ions and hence the degradation of MTX during photo-Fenton. The UV/H2O2 process is usually slower than the photo-Fenton process, but, in this study, the UV/H2O2 process proved to be more efficient due to complexing of MTX with Fe(III). The drug exhibited no cytotoxicity against NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells when oxidized by UV/H2O2 or by UV/H2O2/FeOx at the concentrations tested.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / radiation effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / toxicity
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Mitoxantrone* / chemistry
  • Mitoxantrone* / radiation effects
  • Mitoxantrone* / toxicity
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Photolysis*
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Sunlight
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / radiation effects
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fenton's reagent
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Mitoxantrone
  • Iron