2.2.5. Determination of Zeta Potential

The zeta potential of both erythrocytes and thrombocytes was obtained by performing microelectrophoretic assessments on samples using the ELS technique. The experiment was performed as a pH function using a WTW InoLab pH 3310 laboratory meter (WTW, Weinheim, Germany). Blood components were suspended in a 0.155 M NaCl solution and titrated to the desired pH (range 3–12) with strong acid (HCl) and strong base (NaOH) solutions, prepared with sodium chloride to maintain the strength of the ionic solution constant. Polystyrene was added to NaCl to achieve the final concentrations of each polymer type: 0.002, 0.01, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/mL. The particles suspended in sodium chloride were exposed to an electric field during the measurements. The Zetasizer Nano ZS apparatus (Malvern, Great Britain) uses the Phase Analysis Light-Scattering technique to determine the electrophoretic mobility of the tested particles. Then, the electrophoretic mobility is converted into zeta potential. Experiments were conducted eight times with similar results obtained.
