Triplet States in DOPA-Melanin and in Its Complexes with Kanamycin and Copper Cu(II) Ions

Abstract

The mono-and biradical forms of DOPA-melanin (DOPA-eumelanin) were studied by EPR spectroscopy in 100-300 K temperature range. The existence of triplet states in DOPA-melanin was proved. The analysis of EPR spectra has shown that in DOPA-melanin and its complexes with kanamycin and Cu 2+ ions, two kinds of paramagnetic centres exist. The first of them are in doublet ground state with spin S = 1/2 and they obey the Curie law. The paramagnetic centres of the second group are in thermally excited triplet state with spin S = 1 and in this case the Curie law is not fulfilled.