Behavior of the thermal diffusivity of native and oxidized human low-density lipoprotein solutions studied by the Z-scan technique

Priscila R. Santos, Thiago C. Genaro-Mattos, Andrea M. Monteiro, Sayuri Miyamoto, Antonio M.Figueiredo Neto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Modifications in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) have emerged as a major pathogenic factor of atherosclerosis, which is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Measurements of the heat diffusivity of human LDL solutions in their native and in vitro oxidized states are presented by using the Z-Scan (ZS) technique. Other complementary techniques were used to obtain the physical parameters necessary to interpret the optical results, e.g., pycnometry, refractometry, calorimetry, and spectrophotometry, and to understand the oxidation phase of LDL particles. To determine the sample's thermal diffusivity using the thermal lens model, an iterative one-parameter fitting method is proposed which takes into account several characteristic ZS timedependent and the position-dependent transmittance measurements. Results show that the thermal diffusivity increases as a function of the LDL oxidation degree, which can be explained by the increase of the hydroperoxides production due to the oxidation process. The oxidation products go from one LDL to another, disseminating the oxidation process and caring the heat across the sample. This phenomenon leads to a quick thermal homogenization of the sample, avoiding the formation of the thermal lens in highly oxidized LDL solutions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number105003
JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics
Volume17
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • High-performance liquid chromatography
  • Low density lipoprotein
  • Oxidation
  • Thermal diffusivity
  • Thermal-lens
  • Z-scan

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomedical Engineering

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