Direct Albumin quantification by NanoDrop and Optical Properties of blood plasma

Abstract

Human Serum Albumin (HSA) is the most prominent and abundant protein in blood plasma. Deficiency of HSA may cause hypoalbuminemia which is an indicator of cancer. In this study HSA has been quantified in blood samples from nine different cancer patients before (pre) and after (post) first dose of applied chemotherapy drug. Albumin has been quantified by the auto-ranging path length capability of NanoDrop™ 2000. Optical properties of these samples have also been measured. Nonlinear optical properties of human serum albumin from the same human blood plasma has been measured by the Z-scan technique. Change in albumin concentration in the blood serum of a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy with the corresponding change in nonlinear optical (NLO) response has been calculated. Data analysis reveals a regular change in albumin concentration and a substantial change in the NLO response due to the application of the chemo-drug.