Thermodynamic Parameters: An Alternative Determinant for Viral Infection Diagnosis

Abstract

Viral particles and its mechanism of interaction in contact with human blood cells were studied. Thermo-energetic concept was employed to analyze the evidences such as viral loads, increase in CD4 count caused by the administered drugs interfering in the binding process between the virus and blood cells as adopted in the medical field to establish patient’s response to drug treatment. Glycerin was used as the probe liquid and was dropped at the surface of the prepared slides. It was observed that the contacted angles of infected cells (63.4o) were lowered upon the administration of the antiretroviral drugs.  Ritonavir reduced the contact angle to 56.6 ±5.25 o,Lamiduvine lowered it to 56.5±3.3o,Didanosine gave a contact angle of 56.8±3.03owhile Azidothymidine were able to lower the contact angle of infected blood samples to 56.3±4.32o.The surface energy was decreased owing to viral activities in the blood cells from 44.35±1.90 mJ/m2 for the uninfected blood sample to33.54±2.31 mJ/m2 when the sample got infected. The administered drugs were able to increase the surface energies of the treated cells from 38mJ/m2 to 40 mJ/m2as against the surface energy of infected which was between 31 mJ/m2 to 39 mJ/m2.Energy of adhesion was increased by the viral-blood interactions from -12.99±1.75 mJ/m2 for the uninfected blood sample to -23.22±2.22 mJ/m2 for the infected sample. The treatments given recorded the energy of adhesion to a range from -18.34 mJ/m2 to -18.75 mJ/m2which still falls a little lower than that of the infected without treatment(-23.222mJ/m2). The inability of the drugs administered to revert the negative signs of adhesion energy in the treated samples signifies bonding between the virus and the blood cells. Design expert software was employed to generate mathematical model that accurately predict the variables in the interacting medium for the infected blood sample.