Open AccessSpectroscopical and mechanical characterization of normal and thalassemic red blood cells by Raman Tweezers
Author(s) -
Anna Chiara De Luca,
Giulia Rusciano,
Rosanna Ciancia,
Vincenzo Martinelli,
Giuseppe Pesce,
Bruno Rotoli,
Lara Selvaggi,
Antonio Sasso
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.007943
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , optical tweezers , red blood cell , thalassemia , hemoglobin , biophysics , tweezers , spectrin , materials science , chemistry , optics , biology , biochemistry , cytoskeleton , cell , physics , genetics
In this work, the effects of thalassemia, a blood disease quite diffuse in the Mediterranean sea region, have been investigated at single cell level using a Raman Tweezers system. By resonant excitation of hemoglobin Raman bands, we have examined the oxygenation capability of beta-thalassemic erythrocytes. A reduction of this fundamental erythrocyte function has been found. The measurements have been performed on a significant number of red blood cells; the relative statistical analysis is presented. Moreover, the response to photo-induced oxidative stress of diseased cells with respect to the normal ones has been analyzed. Finally, the deformability of thalassemic erythrocytes has been quantified by measuring the membrane shear modulus by using a double-trap system: the measurements have revealed an increase in membrane rigidity of more than 40%, giving evidence that the genetic defect associated to thalassemia, which manly relies on hemoglobin structure, also strongly affects the erythrocyte mechanical properties. Our results demonstrate that the developed set-up may have potential for the monitoring of blood diseases and their response to drug therapies.