title: Luminescent quantum clusters of gold in transferrin family protein, lactoferrin exhibiting FRET.
abstract: We report the synthesis of highly luminescent, water soluble quantum clusters (QCs) of gold, which are stabilized by an iron binding transferrin family protein, lactoferrin (Lf). The synthesized AuQC@Lf clusters were characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), FTIR spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy along with picosecond-resolved lifetime measurements. Detailed investigations with FTIR and CD spectroscopy have revealed changes in the secondary structure of the protein in the cluster. We have also studied Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurring between the protein and the cluster. The ability of the clusters to sense cupric ions selectively at ppm concentrations was tested. The stability of clusters in widely varying pH conditions and their continued luminescence make it feasible for them to be used for intracellular imaging and molecular delivery, particularly in view of Lf protection.
authors.affiliation: DST Unit on Nanoscience (DST UNS), Department of Chemistry and Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
authors.forename: Paulrajpillai Lourdu
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Kamalesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.forename: Pramod Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Samir Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Thalappil
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pradeep
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000737:chemistry*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D045663:Quantum Dots; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D007781:Lactoferrin