Light scattering properties of the erythrocytes in less than 0.01% aer
osil suspension were measured. It was shown that light scattering prop
erties of intact cells and cells associated with silica (aerosil) are
different. It was also established that the aerosil particles are char
acterized by more intensive autofluorescence in the channel of green f
luorescence than the erythrocytes. We propose that this observation al
lows a facile means of studying the interaction of purified silica and
cell membranes. Hemolysis, as a result of interaction between the aer
osil particles and the erythrocytes, was confirmed by photometric meas
urement of hemoglobin in the supernatant. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.