The Mechanism of Hemolysis by Surfactants: Effect of Solution Composition

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 252; no. 1; pp. 66 - 76
• Main Authors: Shalel, Sagit, Streichman, Sara, Marmur, Abraham
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.08.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis of complex biological substances; Analytical biochemistry: general aspects, technics, instrumentation; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and biological fluids; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemolysis - drug effects; Membrane Fluidity - drug effects; Octoxynol - pharmacology; Osmolar Concentration; Particle Size; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - pharmacology; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - pharmacology; Solubility; Solutions - chemistry; Structure-Activity Relationship; Surface-Active Agents - pharmacology; ionic-strength; osmolarity; hemolysis; surfactant; erythrocyte; red blood cell; Hemolysis; Surfactant
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1006/jcis.2002.8474

The effect of ionic strength, solute size, and osmolarity of the suspending solution on surfactant-induced erythrocyte hemolysis was studied. Two possible mechanisms of hemolysis were considered: osmotic lysis (affected by solute particle size) and solubilization (not affected by solute particle size). It was found that the ionic strength of the solution has a major effect on the hemolysis process, depending on the surfactant nature and concentration. An increase in the ionic strength lowers the rate of hemolysis induced by DTAB, and enhances SDS-induced hemolysis. Changes in ionic strength have little effect on hemolysis induced by Triton X-100. To explain these effects, it was assumed that the changes in ionic strength differently affect the adsorption of cationic and anionic surfactants to the membrane. The change in the amount of adsorbed surfactant either influences the rate of osmotic hemolysis by changing the membrane permeability or induces a transition from the osmotic mechanism to solubilization. These phenomena were observed for isotonic as well as hypertonic solutions.