Physical properties of pathological human erythrocytes

A contribution to the study of physical properties of pathological human erythrocytes has been obtained by applying the electron spin resonance spectroscopy with spin labels. The rotational correlation time, τc, of the spin label tempamine has been used for a comparative study of internal microviscosity in normal and in homozygous β-thalassemic erythrocytes. Results claim for a decreased microviscosity in pathological erythrocytes as compared with normal ones. These findings suggest the hypothesis of a different water structuring process in the physiological and pathological situation inside red blood cells.