A Brief Overview of the Effect of High Pressures on the Vibrational Spectra of Biomaterials

Abstract

The application of high pressures to biomaterials can often result in significant structural modifications and, in some cases, also lead to changes in the rates and the equilibria of any associated biological activities. Pressure-induced changes can conveniently be monitored by molecular spectroscopy. We present here a brief overview of the effects of high pressures on the IR and Raman spectra of biomaterials that have been reported over the past 25 years. Examples of the biomaterials that have been examined are model antithyroid drugs, proteins, amino acids, dental materials, human bones, and bioorganometallic compounds. In addition, some recent investigations on the effect of pressure on microbial activity and the conversion of biomass into molecular hydrogen under supercritical water conditions are discussed. Two typical diamond-anvil cells (DACs), which are used for high-pressure vibrational spectroscopic measurements, are also described here.