In this chapter, the possibilities to highlight atomic/molecular details of the
surface of biomaterials by IR and Raman analysis of their interaction with molecules in
controlled environments are reviewed. For this aim, information on the experimental
setups and procedures is also provided, as the use of vibrational spectroscopies in such
conditions is rather new in the field of biomaterials. Particular attention has been
devoted to the use of probe molecules. Such molecules can be quite different from those
in interaction with biomaterials in actual functional conditions, but, when adsorbed in
controlled conditions, become useful “molecular tools”, because of the sensitivity of
their vibrational features to the physical-chemical properties of surface sites.
Keywords: Infra-red spectroscopy, raman spectroscopy, hydroxyapatite, molecules
adsorption, molecules desorption.
