EVA Technology and Proteomics: A Two-Pronged Attack on Cultural Heritage

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Cultural heritage objects are vulnerable to damage from traditional analysis methods.
• Non-invasive techniques are crucial for preserving historical artifacts and manuscripts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, non-damaging technique for analyzing cultural heritage materials.
• To demonstrate the capability of harvesting and identifying biomolecules and metabolites from diverse surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Development of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) films impregnated with ion exchangers and hydrophobic resins (C8 and C18).
• Application of EVA films to surfaces for harvesting macromolecules (proteins, DNA) and metabolites.
• Identification of harvested substances using standard analytical instrumentation.

Main Results:

• Detection of renal pathology markers and morphine in Bulgakov's manuscript.
• Identification of tuberculosis bacteria in Chekhov's shirt and Orwell's letter.
• Discovery of Yersinia pestis and anthrax in plague registries, metals in Kepler's manuscripts, and mercury sulfide in Casanova's memoirs.

Conclusions:

• The EVA technique offers a powerful, non-destructive method for analyzing cultural heritage.
• This approach enables the detection of historical biological traces, diseases, and substances, offering new insights into the past.
• The methodology has broad applications in museums, archives, and private collections for understanding the creators of cultural masterpieces.