Molecular rotors offer tool for evaluating red blood cell disorders
Molecular rotors offer tool for evaluating red blood cell disorders lead image
Many red blood cell (RBC) disorders, like sickle cell anemia and hereditary spherocytosis, involve cells with different deformability properties. Identifying these cells is critical for diagnosis and treatment of these disorders, but existing methods to evaluate cell deformability are often slow or are insensitive to heterogeneity.
Molecular rotors are fluorescent molecules that are sensitive to the viscosity of their environment. This makes them ideal for investigating the rheology of microenvironments, such as the interiors of cells, that traditional instruments cannot reach. Because pathological RBCs tend to be stiffer than healthy cells, these molecules should be able to differentiate between them.
Briole et al. examined the potential of molecular rotors as an alternative tool to identify RBCs with altered mechanical properties. They tested their uptake into RBCs and their utility as a marker for RBC rigidity.
In a series of experiments, the researchers introduced a particular molecular rotor, DASPI, to samples of RBCs. They found that DASPI was uniformly absorbed by RBCs, making it a useful tool for evaluating viscosity. In fact, the method proved even more sensitive than they initially hypothesized.
“A key – and somewhat unexpected – outcome was this rotor’s ability to detect subtle differences not only between donors but also among cells from the same individual,” said author Bérengère Abou.
Overall, the team found they were able to quickly and accurately measure multiple indicators corresponding to cellular characteristics relevant to RBC disorder, like shape, hemoglobin content, and rigidity.
“Ultimately, we hope to contribute to more precise diagnosis, monitoring, and potentially personalized treatment strategies for patients with RBC disorders,” said Abou.
Source: “Using molecular rotors to investigate haemoglobin concentration and heterogeneity in red blood cells,” by A. Briole, M. Marin, C. Le Van Kim, and B. Abou, Journal of Rheology (2025). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1122/8.0000972 .
