Co-amoxiclav Effects on the Structural and Binding Properties of Human Serum Albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant plasma protein in the human body. HSA plays an important role in drug transport and metabolism. This protein has a high affinity to a very wide range of materials, including metals such as Cu2+ and Zn2+, fatty acids, amino acids and metabolites such as bilirubin and many drug compounds. In this study, we investigated the effects of co-amoxiclav, as a drug which could be carried by this protein, on HSA structure and binding properties via spectroscopy and electrochemistry techniques. Based on this study, it was found that a therapeutic dose of co-amoxiclav as well as doses 4 to 8 folds higher than the therapeutic dose has no considerable effect on the HSA tertiary structure at 37oC. However, a dose 2 folds that of the therapeutic dose has a slight effect, but higher doses of the drug has a mild effect in pathological temperature (42oC). In addition, charge density of HSA surface is decreased at 42oC, compared to 37oC. Hence, this finding suggests a reduced role of HSA in regulation of osmotic pressure in the fever conditions, compared to the physiological conditions. Co-amoxiclav reduces the charge surface density of HSA at physiological and pathological temperatures and therefore alters its binding properties, which could be important in drug interference and complications.