Binding of an anti-inflammatory drug lornoxicam with blood proteins: insights from spectroscopic investigations

Abstract

The interaction between an anti-inflammatory drug, lornoxicam (LXM) and protein (human serum albumin and bovine serum albumin) was studied by spectroscopic techniques (Fluorescence, synchronous, FT-IR, UV-vis absorption and circular dichroism). The quenching mechanism of fluorescence of the protein by the drug was discussed. Based on the interaction studies carried out at different temperatures by spectrofluorometry, the binding constant and the number of binding sites for drug on protein have been evaluated. The nature of binding force operating between the drug and protein was proposed to be electrostatic and hydrophobic based on thermodynamic parameters. The distance r between the donor (protein) and acceptor (drug) was determined based on the Förster's theory of non-radiation energy transfer and found to be 2.38 nm and 2.56 nm for LXM-BSA and LXM-HSA respectively. Displacement studies with different site probes revealed that the drug bound to the hydrophobic pocket located in sub domain IIA; that is to say, Trp-214 was near or within the binding site. Circular dichroism data of protein in the presence of drug revealed the decreased α-helicity and hence changes in secondary structure of protein. The effects of some common ions were also investigated.