Abstract In this work, the food dyes brilliant blue FCF and brown HT are experimentally tested as blood cell dyes. Quantum chemical calculations by Semi-Empirical (PM6) method were also performed. Calculated HOMO and LUMO orbitals energies, dipole moments, polar surface areas and entropies, suggested a higher affinity by the cells towards [blue CFC]-2 in comparison with [brown HT]-2. For both species, protonation of the benzene central ring (by NH3+ of amino acids present at the plasmatic membranes) is supposed based on the specific location of LUMO orbitals.
Keywords Brilliant Blue FCF, Brown HT, Blood cells, Molecular modelling; Semi-Empirical.