Study on the interaction between Fe3+ and fibrinogen and its influence on the polymerization behavior of fibrin networks

Abstract

The interactions between fibrinogen molecules and Fe³⁺ were investigated with UV-Vis spectra, circular dichroism spectra, solution turbidity, steady viscosities, zeta potential, average particle size and size distribution and the molecular docking method. The polymerization behaviour of a fibrinogen solution mediated by different concentrations of Fe³⁺ was studied by atomic force microscopy. The results indicated that overloading Fe³⁺ in the fibrinogen solution will accelerate the amorphous aggregation of fibrin, leading to the formation of large rigid clot structures and an elevated fiber mass to length ratio.