The influence of metals (Ag,Cu, Au) on the electrosurface properties of erythrocyte cells studied by electrorotation technique

The behavior of erythrocytes in electrolyte solutions (AgNO₃, CuCl₂, HAuCl₄) under the action of alternating rotating electric field within a frequency range from 10 to 500 kHz (the region of -dispersion) is studied. It is established that the dependences of the amplitude of angular velocity of erythrocyte electrorotation on the field frequency pass through the maximum. The cell rotational velocity is shown to be proportional to the square of field strength and its dependence on the concentration of ion metals is similar to the concentration dependence of cell electrophoretic mobility. The ability of erythrocytes to accumulate heavy metals in significant quantities leading to the inhibition of membrane enzymes is discovered. Sorption activity of cells with respect to studied metals decreases in a series: Au > Ag > Cu > Fe(III) > Ni. Experimental results are explained theoretically.Translated from Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 67, No. 1, 2005, pp. 113–123.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ulberg, Marochko, Savkin, Grusina, Shilov.