Surface properties of crosslinked and crosslinked-permeabilized erythrocytes as studied by partitioning in aqueous polymer two-phase systems

Abstract

Non-charge- and charge-sensitive dextran/polyethyleneglycol two-phase systems have been used to study the surface properties of red blood cells stabilized by crosslinking with dimethyl suberimidate and permeabilized with digitonin. While crosslinked red blood cells show similar hydrophobic- and charge-related surface properties as control cells, the digitonin treatment changes their surface properties. The changes in hydrophobicity are related to the cell total lipid and cholesterol content while the changes in the charge are related to the sialic acid released by neuraminidase.