Infrared spectroscopic studies of nanoscale iron oxide deposits isolated from human thalassemic tissues.

Ferritin and hemosiderin isolated from human thalassemic tissues have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Spectral features due to both the organic components and the inorganic iron oxyhydroxide have been identified. In particular, spectral evidence for the presence of the goethite (alpha-FeOOH) form of hemosiderin has been obtained in the < 800 cm(-1) range. Various treatments of the hemosiderin isolates result in only small changes in the infrared spectrum indicating the close association of the organic components with the nanoscale iron particles present.