title: Investigation of sickle-cell haemoglobin polymerisation under electrochemical control.
abstract: We describe an electrochemistry-based technique to control and monitor the polymerisation of sickle-cell haemoglobin (HbS). The polymerisation was monitored as a change in turbidity during the depletion of oxygen in a small volume custom-built thin-layer electrochemical cell. The cell allowed the investigation of HbS polymerisation as a function of HbS concentration, temperature and solution pH. We confirm that the oxygen was efficiently depleted using finite-element modelling to accurately recreate the electrochemical thin-layer cell. Understanding the nucleation and growth of HbS polymerisation will provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of sickle-cell disease in vivo, and thus help improve therapeutic strategies for this common and frequently disabling disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon St., London, WC1 H 0AJ, UK.
authors.forename: Zeshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McKendry
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: Daren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Caruana
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D058105:Polymerization; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: electrochemistry; haemoglobin; oxygen depletion; protein polymerisation; sickle-cell anemia