A New Model for Thermodynamic Characterization of Hemoglobin

Abstract

In this paper, we formulate a thermodynamic model of hemoglobin that describes, by a physical point of view, phenomena favoring the binding of oxygen to the protein. Our study is based on theoretical methods extrapolated by experimental data. After some remarks on the non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory with internal variables, some thermodynamic functions are determined by the value of the complex dielectric constant. In previous papers, we determined the explicit expression of a dielectric constant as a function of a complex dielectric modulus and frequency. The knowledge of these functions allows a new characterization of the material and leads to the study of new phenomena that has yet to be studied. In detail, we introduce the concept of "hemoglobe", a model that considers the hemoglobin molecule as a plane capacitor, the dielectric of which is almost entirely constituted by the quaternary structure of the protein. This model is suggested by considering a phenomenological coefficient of the non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory related to the displacement polarization current. The comparison of the capacity determined by the mean of this coefficient, and determined by geometrical considerations, gives similar results; although more thermodynamic information is derived by the capacity determined considering the aforementioned coefficient. This was applied to the normal human hemoglobin, homozygous sickle hemoglobin, and sickle cell hemoglobin C disease. Moreover, the energy of the capacitor of the three hemoglobin was determined. Through the identification of displacement currents, the introduction of this model presents new perspectives and helps to explain hemoglobin functionality through a physical point of view.

Thermodynamics Characterization of Lung Carcinoma, Entropic Study and Metabolic Correlations

“…This is due to both the indistinguishable characteristics of the first cancer cells, as well as the difficulty in coordinating non-invasive and low costs screening with diagnostic sensitivity. In recent years there has been a rising interest in dielectric spectroscopy, an investigation technique that can obtain information on the chemical-physical characteristics of biological materials starting from the dielectric properties [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The response of biological tissues to an electric field is characterized by two intrinsic properties conductivity and relative permittivity, which are both dependent on frequency.…”

Recent Advances in Mechanics of Non-Newtonian Fluids

“…Farsaci, et al [24] develop a thermodynamic model of hemoglobin; their model is based on experimental data and the physical point of view favoring the binding of oxygen to the protein. Their model, using non-equilibrium thermodynamics, introduces a phenomenological coefficient related to the displacement polarization current.…”