Work

Spectroscopic Study of the Common Features of Melanins Synthesized from a Diverse Range of Precursors

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Melanins were synthesized using a variety of precursors, some of which are precursors of naturally occurring eumelanin or allomelanin. Purified materials were evaluated using absorbance or FT-IR spectroscopy and compared for their common physical and chemical properties. Absorbance spectra were modeled using an exponential and a novel reciprocal power equation to objectively quantify the appearance of the melanin. The application of the reciprocal power equation was demonstrated to provide an estimate of the band gap width of the melanin material. Both the absorbance and FT-IR spectra of the various melanins showed qualitative similarities despite the chemical diversity of the precursors involved. FT-IR spectroscopy was employed to evaluate the presence of carboxylic acid or carboxylate functional groups and provide evidence of possible oxidative cleavage of aromatic rings during the synthesis of melanin. Through precipitation experiments using Ca2+ the physical (in)stability of melanin dispersions was evaluated and their colloidal properties highlighted.

Source: Molecules

DOI: 10.3390/molecules31203687

Author: Koen Vercruysse

Institution: Tennessee State University

Language: English

Topic: melanin and skin pigmentation

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258

Funder: National Science Foundation