Complex Adsorption Pattern Formation in Drying BSA-NaCl Droplets: Experimental Study

The interaction between proteins and salts in aqueous solutions represents a compelling scientific problem in both biophysical and medical research. One manifestation of the interaction in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)-NaCl-H₂O system is the formation of ordered patterns upon droplet drying. In our experiments, the topographic features of the deposited particles as well as their elemental composition were studied using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this work, we experimentally investigated the stepwise change in the characteristic structures of the precipitate with an increase in the BSA concentration from 0.005 to 35 mg/mL. The formation of discrete BSA-NaCl ring deposits near the droplet edge and around crystallization centers in the interior at BSA concentrations of 0.05-1 mg/mL proved particularly interesting. We demonstrated the sequence of ring structure formation: the process primarily begins with the formation of BSA aggregates arranged in sectors around the circumference, which in turn serve as nucleation sites for NaCl crystallization. We propose a qualitative conceptual-phenomenological interpretation of the observed experimental effects. Concentration-dependent patterns in the emergence and development of other patterns (such as spikes, fractal structures, and chrysanthemum-like formations) were established. These results expand our understanding of protein behavior in aqueous-salt solutions. This can be used in medical diagnostics as biomarkers. The characteristic patterns presented in the work can serve as a useful experimental basis for further studies of the impact of physicochemical factors on proteins and other biopolymers.