2D correlation Raman spectroscopy of model micro- and nano-carbon layers in interactions with albumin, human and animal

Abstract Two carbon layers: micro-formed of pyrolytic carbon (CVD) and nano-constructed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by electrophoretic deposition (EPD), both formed on a Ti support, were contacted with selected proteins. As target proteins, albumin from chicken egg white (Alb), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA), were tested. To unravel the carbon layer-albumin interaction 2D correlation Raman microspectroscopy was applied, checking also the importance of its origin, animal or human. 2D correlation confirms that albumin adheres to the surface of both studied carbon layers. Additionally, it allowed to resolve additional valuable characteristic, which is not directly visible in the Raman spectra. For C (CVD) carbon layer a change in albumin conformation was observed, but for nano-MWCNTs layer interactions with particular amino acid side chains with the surface was seen. Differences between albumins can drive on the synthetic material-albumin interactions.