INTERACTION MECHANISM OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS AND BLOOD CELLS TREATED WITH CONVENTIONAL ANTIVIRAL DRUGS AND PLANTS EXTRACT

SOURCE:

Faculty: Engineering
Department: Mechanical Engineering

CONTRIBUTORS:

Iweriolor, S.
Achebe. C.H.

ABSTRACT:

ABSTRACT
The interaction of Hepatitis C virus in the presence of conventional antiviral drugs and bio-extract was investigated in this study. A total of twenty blood samples were used for the study. The conventional antiviral drugs used are interferon alfa (IFN), Ribavirin (RBV), Atazanavir/ritonavir (ATR) and Efavirenz/lamivudine/tenofovir (ELT) while the scientifically prepared herbal extracts are the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum(BP), Anona muricata(AM), vernonia amygdalina(VA) and phyllantus amarus. Phytochemical screening and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were done on the plant extracts to identify the bioactive ingredients and functional group. Inoculation of blood and smearing of slides were done to allow for contact angle experiment. These were done at room temperature and allowed to dry. Glycerin was dropped on the surface of the smeared slide while the spreading process captured immediately with a Nikkon digital camera. The angle formed at the solid-serum interface was measured. The experimented data was used for the Matlab computation of surface energy, the energy of adhesion and Hamaker coefficient. The average contact angles obtained for infected white blood cells were observed to be the highest 63.40±3.20. The surface energy of 44.35±1.90mJ/m2 for uninfected blood sample was reduced to 33.54±2.31 mJ/m2 due to the virus. Mathematical models were generated using Response surface methodology to establish the actual relationship between the variables and the predicted response. The concept of combined negative Hamaker coefficient employed served as a useful determinant in the prediction of attraction or repulsion between the interacting viral particles and blood cells in the presence of the various drugs. The combined negative Hamaker coefficient gave a value of -0.150 x10-25J which signifies that repulsion of the interacting particles is attainable. The combined negative Hamaker coefficient obtained using various conventional drugs in mJ/m2 are IFN 0.462 x10-19, RBV -0.132 x10-19, 1.291 x10-19 for ATR and ELT -0.138 x10-19. Similarly those of the herbal extracts are as follows; AM 1.045 x10-19, VA -0.592 x10-20, BP -0.672 x10-19 and DH -0.210 x10-18. The results of the study have shown the possible effectiveness of natural compounds in managing human diseases. The thermodynamic model and the implication of the negative Hamaker Coefficient obtained are a good indicator and as such should be considered by the pharmaceutical industries in the process of drug design and production.