Investigation on damage of BSA molecules under irradiation of low frequency ultrasound in the presence of Fe III-tartrate complexes

Abstract

The interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Fe III-tartrate complexes ([Fe III(tar)(H 2O) 3] − and [Fe III(tar) 2] 5−) as well as the damage of BSA in the presence of Fe III-tartrate complexes under ultrasonic irradiation was studied by UV–vis and fluorescence spectra. In addition, the influences of ultrasonic irradiation time, Fe III-tartrate complex concentration, ionic strength and solution acidity (pH value) were also examined on the damage of BSA. The results showed that the fluorescence quenching of BSA caused by the Fe III-tartrate complexes belonged to the static quenching. The BSA and Fe III-tartrate complexes interacted with each other mainly through weak interaction and coordinate actions. The corresponding binding association constants ( K) and the binding site numbers ( n) were calculated. The results were as follows: K 1 = 1.67 × 10 3 L mol −1 and n 1 = 0.9699 for [Fe III(tar)(H 2O) 3] −, K 2 = 1.54 × 10 3 L mol −1 and n 2 = 0.8754 for [Fe III(tar) 2] 5−. Otherwise, under ultrasonic irradiation the BSA molecules were obviously damaged by the Fe III-tartrate complexes. The damage degree rose up with the increase of ultrasonic irradiation time, Fe III-tartrate complex concentration, pH value and ionic strength. And that, [Fe III(tar)(H 2O) 3] − exhibited higher sonocatalytic activity in a way than [Fe III(tar) 2] 5−.