Fluorescence properties of natural eumelanin biopolymer

Results about fluorescence spectroscopy of natural eumelanin are presented and compared to analogous results related to synthetic eumelanin, with the aim to investigate the structural organization of eumelanin and the role of the protein coat in its optical and structural properties. The spectra of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of luminescence 2011-08, Vol.131 (8), p.1584-1588
Main Authors: Perna, G., Palazzo, G., Mallardi, A., Capozzi, V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregates
Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Biopolymer
Eumelanin
Fluorescence
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heterocyclic compounds, pigments
Luminescence
Monomers
Oligomers
Optical properties
Other biological molecules
Physical properties
Proteins
Spectra
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Summary:Results about fluorescence spectroscopy of natural eumelanin are presented and compared to analogous results related to synthetic eumelanin, with the aim to investigate the structural organization of eumelanin and the role of the protein coat in its optical and structural properties. The spectra of synthetic and natural eumelanin have similar optical spectra, except for the features related to proteins in natural eumelanins. Fluorescence due to ensembles of large oligomer systems has been spectrally distinguished from that due to monomers and small oligomer systems. Nonetheless, the natural (protein-containing) eumelanin results to consist of aggregates having a larger size than that of synthetic eumelanin. ► Aggregates have larger size in natural than in synthetic eumelanin. ► Fluorescence of natural eumelanin is due both to large and small oligomer systems. ► The fluorescence spectra support the “chemical disorder model”.
ISSN:0022-2313
1872-7883
DOI:10.1016/j.jlumin.2011.03.055