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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Protein (bovine serum albumin; BSA)-drug (indomethacin; IM) nanocomposites were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at two wavelengths, infrared (1064nm) and ultraviolet (266nm), from uniformly dispersed mixture of BSA and IM as a target. Composite particulates under 50nm were obtained with the coexistence of larger agglomerates over 200nm. Primary structure of BSA is preserved after laser irradiation by both wavelengths. Effects of electronic and vibrational excitation by UV and IR laser respectively on the secondary structure of the nanocomposites were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Chemical shift towards lower wavenumber and a broadening of the amide I band due to PLD treatment were observed by FT-IR. From curve fitting of the amide I into five components, we found the decrease in the ratio of α-helical / β-sheet components with increasing the laser fluence. The secondary structure of BSA is more sensitive to the laser fluence than the wavelength.