Nanostructured biomaterials/biofluids interface processes: Titanium effect on methaemoglobin adsorption on titanosilicate microspheres

The biocompatibility of nanostructured titanosilicate microspheres with different Ti/Si ratios was evaluated by probing the affinity of horse haemoglobin (Hgb) towards the samples surface, in terms of quantitative and conformational changes analysis. The samples morphology before and after protein adsorption was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) on spin labeled protein and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies were further used to achieve information concerning both the amount of attached haemoglobin and its secondary structure modifications upon adsorption. The obtained results suggest that nanostructured titanosilicate microspheres present a friendly surface for protein adsorption and an enhanced protein adherence with increase of silica content.