From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis
The generic term “melanin“ describes a black pigment of biological origin, although some melanins can be brown or even yellow. The pigment is characterized as a heterogenic polymer of phenolic or indolic nature, and the classification of eu-, pheo- and allo- melanin is broadly ac...
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doaj-28e3786e1a704cc1bf1fd5eb612caeab2020-11-25T00:13:43ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1422-00672019-08-012016394310.3390/ijms20163943ijms20163943From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin AnalysisIoana-Ecaterina Pralea0Radu-Cristian Moldovan1Alina-Maria Petrache2Maria Ilieș3Simona-Codruța Hegheș4Irina Ielciu5Raul Nicoară6Mirela Moldovan7Mihaela Ene8Mihai Radu9Alina Uifălean10Cristina-Adela Iuga11MedFuture—Research Center for Advanced Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 4-6, Gh. Marinescu Street 23, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMedFuture—Research Center for Advanced Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 4-6, Gh. Marinescu Street 23, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMedFuture—Research Center for Advanced Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 4-6, Gh. Marinescu Street 23, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMedFuture—Research Center for Advanced Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 4-6, Gh. Marinescu Street 23, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 6, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Dermopharmacy and Cosmetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, ”Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ion Creangă Street 12, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaHoria Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Reactorului Street 30, 077125 Măgurele, RomaniaHoria Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Reactorului Street 30, 077125 Măgurele, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMedFuture—Research Center for Advanced Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 4-6, Gh. Marinescu Street 23, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaThe generic term “melanin“ describes a black pigment of biological origin, although some melanins can be brown or even yellow. The pigment is characterized as a heterogenic polymer of phenolic or indolic nature, and the classification of eu-, pheo- and allo- melanin is broadly accepted. This classification is based on the chemical composition of the monomer subunit structure of the pigment. Due to the high heterogeneity of melanins, their analytical characterization can be a challenging task. In the present work, we synthesized the current information about the analytical methods which can be applied in melanin analysis workflow, from extraction and purification to high-throughput methods, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass-spectrometry or pyrolysis gas chromatography. Our thorough comparative evaluation of analytical data published so far on melanin analysis has proven to be a difficult task in terms of finding equivalent results, even when the same matrix was used. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of prior knowledge of melanin types and properties in order to select a valid experimental design using analytical methods that are able to deliver reliable results and draw consistent conclusions.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/16/3943melanineumelaninpheomelaninallomelaninbiopolymersanalytical methodsMALDIpyrolysis gas chromatography |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ioana-Ecaterina Pralea Radu-Cristian Moldovan Alina-Maria Petrache Maria Ilieș Simona-Codruța Hegheș Irina Ielciu Raul Nicoară Mirela Moldovan Mihaela Ene Mihai Radu Alina Uifălean Cristina-Adela Iuga |
spellingShingle |
Ioana-Ecaterina Pralea Radu-Cristian Moldovan Alina-Maria Petrache Maria Ilieș Simona-Codruța Hegheș Irina Ielciu Raul Nicoară Mirela Moldovan Mihaela Ene Mihai Radu Alina Uifălean Cristina-Adela Iuga From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis International Journal of Molecular Sciences melanin eumelanin pheomelanin allomelanin biopolymers analytical methods MALDI pyrolysis gas chromatography |
author_facet |
Ioana-Ecaterina Pralea Radu-Cristian Moldovan Alina-Maria Petrache Maria Ilieș Simona-Codruța Hegheș Irina Ielciu Raul Nicoară Mirela Moldovan Mihaela Ene Mihai Radu Alina Uifălean Cristina-Adela Iuga |
author_sort |
Ioana-Ecaterina Pralea |
title |
From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis |
title_short |
From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis |
title_full |
From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis |
title_fullStr |
From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis |
title_sort |
from extraction to advanced analytical methods: the challenges of melanin analysis |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
issn |
1422-0067 |
publishDate |
2019-08-01 |
description |
The generic term “melanin“ describes a black pigment of biological origin, although some melanins can be brown or even yellow. The pigment is characterized as a heterogenic polymer of phenolic or indolic nature, and the classification of eu-, pheo- and allo- melanin is broadly accepted. This classification is based on the chemical composition of the monomer subunit structure of the pigment. Due to the high heterogeneity of melanins, their analytical characterization can be a challenging task. In the present work, we synthesized the current information about the analytical methods which can be applied in melanin analysis workflow, from extraction and purification to high-throughput methods, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass-spectrometry or pyrolysis gas chromatography. Our thorough comparative evaluation of analytical data published so far on melanin analysis has proven to be a difficult task in terms of finding equivalent results, even when the same matrix was used. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of prior knowledge of melanin types and properties in order to select a valid experimental design using analytical methods that are able to deliver reliable results and draw consistent conclusions. |
topic |
melanin eumelanin pheomelanin allomelanin biopolymers analytical methods MALDI pyrolysis gas chromatography |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/16/3943 |
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