Micro-Raman spectroscopy study of the effect of Mid-Ultraviolet radiation on erythrocyte membrane

Mid-Ultraviolet (UVB) has a significant influence on human health. In this study, human erythrocytes were exposed to UVB to investigate the effects of UVB radiation on erythrocytes membrane. And Micro-Raman spectroscopy was employed to detect the damage. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to classify the control erythrocytes and the irradiated erythrocytes. Results showed that the erythrocytes membrane was damaged by Mid-Ultraviolet (UVB) radiation. The intensity of the Raman peaks at 1126 cm−1 and 1082 cm−1 were used to calculate the Longitudinal Order-Parameters in Chains (Strans) which can present the liquidity and ionic permeability of erythrocyte membrane. After UVB radiation for 30 min, both the liquidity and ionic permeability decreased. At the same time, the intensity of the peaks at 1302 cm−1 (α-helix), 1254 cm−1 (random coil), 1452 cm−1 and 1430 cm−1 (CH2/CH3 stretch) have also changed which indicated the membrane protein also been damaged by UVB. In the whole process of radiation, the more UVB radiation dose the more damage on the erythrocyte membrane.