The influence of oxidative stress on microviscosity of hemoglobin-containing liposomes

Encapsulation of hemoglobin (Hb) within a liposome is one of the strategies in the development of artificial oxygen carriers. In this study the effects of oxygen radical generating system (xantine/xantine oxidase) on the internal microviscosity and protein degradation of hemoglobin-containing liposomes ('hemosomes') prepared from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and different amounts of cholesterol (Ch) (0-0.5 mol/mol) were investigated. The results demonstrated a direct relationship between increasing oxidant stress and microviscosity of Hb vesicles and also showed clearly that the increase in internal viscosity was caused mainly by globin degradation. It was shown that the higher content of Ch, the lower Hb degradation and smaller increase in internal viscosity were observed. The significant protection effect against oxygen radicals was observed only for liposomes with the addition of 0.3 mol/mol or more of Ch. It seems that Ch concentration in liposomes is of prime importance for stabilizing of Hb in 'hemosomes'.