The Effect of Surgical Laser Radiation on the Structure of Bovine Serum Albumin in vitro

The effect of a surgical laser on the physicochemical properties of bovine serum albumin molecules has been investigated. After exposure to laser radiation, the optical density of the protein solution increased, the fluorescence intensity decreased, a significant decrease in the intensity of the α-helix band was observed in the Raman spectrum, and the refractive index of solution did not change significantly. At the same time, the viscosity of the albumin solution increased and pseudoplasticity decreased. Massive damage to the polypeptide chain of the protein was not detected, while intensive aggregation was found. Thus, the processes of partial denaturation and aggregation prevailed in the albumin solution under the action of surgical laser radiation; aromatic amino-acid residues were damaged insignificantly and there was no fragmentation of albumin molecules.