Applications of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy in the Study of Oxidative Stress in Biological Systems.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is the most direct and powerful method for the detection and identification of free radicals and other molecules with unpaired electrons. Such species are generated by and are crucial to mechanisms of oxidative stress in biological systems, and EPR spectroscopy offers a unique ability to detect, identify, and quantitate free radicals to aid our understanding of the role of these species in oxidative stress. This chapter outlines the application of EPR spectroscopy to the study of important reactive oxygen and nitrogen molecules in biological systems including their detection in vivo.