Raman spectra of human keratotic biopolymers: Skin, callus, hair and nail

Abstract
Fourier transform Raman spectra of human keratotic biopolymers were obtained. The spectra from skin stratum corneum, callus, nail and hair were fluorescence free and the samples did not degrade during analysis. Assignments consistent with the vibrational wavenumbers were made to characterize the molecular and conformational nature of the samples. The principal structural dissimilarities were in the sulphur content of tissues containing hard keratin (hair and nail) and soft keratin (stratum corneum and callus).