Monitoring surfactant-induced hemolysis by surface tension measurement

Surface tension measurements were employed to monitor the erythrocyte hemolysis process induced by surfactants. Two types of surfactants were used: the cationic surfactant DTAB and the anionic surfactant SDS. During DTAB-induced hemolysis, the changes in surface tension clearly demonstrate three stages. The first stage is characterized by surface tension increase, which is explained by surfactant removal from the suspending solution, due to adsorption onto cell membranes. In the second stage, surface tension remains constant, implying that equilibrium is attained between the membrane-bound surfactant and the surfactant in solution. The third stage is characterized by surface tension decrease that begins simultaneously with measurable cell-interior release, and lasts until hemolysis is completed. With SDS-induced hemolysis, the same three stages are observed at a low concentration; however, fluctuational increase in surface tension is obtained for higher concentrations. The latter is explained by additional adsorption of surfactant to solubilized membrane fragments.