title: Fluorescent Ag clusters via a protein-directed approach as a Hg(II) ion sensor.
abstract: Proteins have proven to be particularly attractive as effective ligands in the synthesis of nano- and subnanoscaled materials because of their multiple chelating and functional groups imparting unique functionalities. However, protein-directed fluorescent metal cluster synthesis is still a challenge but a promising area of research. Here, we report on the synthesis of new water-soluble, stable, fluorescent Ag clusters via a facile, green method using denatured bovine serum albumin (dBSA) as a stabilizing agent. The dBSA with its 35 free cysteine residues could contribute to polyvalent interactions with the Ag clusters and serve as effective stabilizing agents for these clusters. The as-prepared Ag clusters showed high fluorescence emission at ∼637 nm and were stable even in 1 M NaCl. The fluorescent Ag clusters were then used in the detection of Hg(2+) with high sensitivity and selectivity. The detection limit was 10 nM in the linear range from 10 nM to 5 μM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bindley Bioscience Center, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Cunlan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irudayaraj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D012834:Silver; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008628:Mercury