I am measuring water contact angles on top of organisms that produce hydrophobic proteins. I use pure water to measure water contact angles with a goniometer on top of a lawn of organisms. However coloured droplets of water are better to illustrate the phenomenon. The problem is that a lot of common microbiology dyes bind to protein and perhaps interfere with the surface tension of the water droplet or its interphase with the hydrophobic surface. Are there any common dyes that do not bind to the proteins ? To complicate matters it would be better if the dye is not made up with alcohol because it is less polar.
Can you use an inorganic colorant, like chromate? Iron and cobalt thiocyanate complexes are deeply colored as well, but they might bind to proteins.
It's just for a colour contrast, for images like publication. The real measurements would be made with pure water so this might be possible.
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