EFFECTS OF DMSO ON THE PROPERTIES OF RED BLOOD CELLS I. INTERACTION WITH LANTHANUM IONS AND FLOCCULATION

ABSTRACT

The binding of lanthanum Ions onto the surfaces of fixed turkey, chicken, horse and dog cells was studied electrophoretl-cally, in the presence and in the absence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Charge reversal concentrations and electrochemical free energies of lanthanum ion adsorption were calculated. The surfaces responded differently to lanthanum ion binding with each addition of DMSO. Flocculation studies revealed that rapid flocculation of turkey cells occurred when the zeta potential had dropped to-8.1 mV, at an effective Hamaker coefficient of 13.15 × 10^-23. Even at zero van der Waals attraction, the admixture of lanthanum nitrate could cause flocculation of turkey cells. It is concluded that the cells flocculated by trivalent cation bridging, with little or no contribution of van der Waals-London attraction at the primary minimum.

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S. N. Omenyi

USRA Visiting Scientist. Present address: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anambra State University of Technology, P.M.B. 01660, Enugu, Anambra State, Nigeria