The Application of Negative Hamaker Concept to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Blood Interactions Mechanism

Abstract

HIV-blood interactions were studied using the Hamaker coefficient approach as a thermodynamic tool in determining the interaction processes. Application was made of the Lifshitz derivation for van der Waals forces as an alternative to the contact angle approach. The methodology involved taking blood samples from twenty HIV-infected persons and from twenty uninfected persons for absorbance measurement using Ultraviolet Visible Spectrophotometer. From the absorbance data the variables (e.g. dielectric constant, etc.) required for computations were derived. The Hamaker constants A11, A22, A33 and the combined Hamaker coefficients A132 were obtained. The value of A132abs = 0.2587 × 10−21 J was obtained for HIV-infected blood. A significance of this result is the positive sense of the absolute combined Hamaker coefficient which implies net positive van der Waals forces indicating an attraction between the virus and the lymphocyte. This in effect suggests that infection has occurred thus confirming the role of this principle in HIV-blood interactions. A near zero value for the combined Hamaker coefficient for the uninfected blood samples A131abs = 0.1026 × 10−21 J is an indicator that a negative Hamaker coefficient is attainable. To propose a solution to HIV infection, it became necessary to find a way to render the absolute combined Hamaker coefficient A132abs negative. As a first step to this, a mathematical derivation for A33 ≥ 0.9763 × 10−21 J which satisfies this condition for a negative A132abs was obtained. To achieve the condition of the stated A33 above with possible additive(s) in form of drugs to the serum as the intervening medium will be the next step.