A Spectroscopic Study on the Interaction between Ferric Oxide Nanoparticles and Human Hemoglobin

Magnetic nanoparticles can promote many attractive functions in biomedicine, which may contribute to the prevention of human disease but also may be potentially harmful. In the present study, the interaction of Fe2O3 nanoparticles with human hemoglobin (Hb) was studied by fluorescence, circular dichroism and UV/vis spectroscopies. Fluorescence data revealed that the fluorescence quenching of Hb by Fe2O3 nanoparticles was the result of the formed complex of Fe2O3 nanoparticles-Hb. Binding constants and other thermodynamic parameters were determined at three different temperatures. The hydrophobic interactions are the predominant intermolecular forces to stabilize the complex. Circular dichroism studies did not show any changes in the content of secondary structure of hemoglobin after Fe2O3 nanoparticles treatment. This study provides important insight into the interaction of Fe2O3 nanoparticles with hemoglobin, which may be a useful guideline for further using of these nanoparticles in biomedical applications.