Acta Pharm. 62 (2012) 201-209
Original research paper
Hemoglomin aggregates
studied under static and dynamic conditions involving the formation of
nanobacteria-like structures
JERAMY L. R. BAUM, RILAND L. JONES, THOMAS J. MANNING, JAMES NIENOW and DENIS
PHILIPS
tmanning@valdosta.edu
1 Department of Chemistry, Valdosta State
University, Valdosta, GA, USA
2 Department of Biology, Valdosta State
University, Valdosta, GA, USA
3 Protemics and Mass Spectrometry Lab,
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Accepted March 23, 2012
Laser light scattering and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to study hemoglobin in the aqueous phase. The impact that salts [(NaCl, Ca3(PO4)2] and iron oxide nanoparticles have on the hemoglobin size are also studied. The first set of experiments examined hemoglobin aggregates in the aqueous phases in the presence of salts and nanoparticles. Aqueous phase samples were then dehydrated and examined using SEM. The resulting structures resemble those observed in nanobacteriastudies conducted in other labs. This study demonstrates that aggregates of hemoglobin and various salts found in a physiological environment can produce structures that resemble nanobacteria.
Keywords: nanobacteria, hemoglobin aggregates