title: Trypsin-stabilized fluorescent gold nanocluster for sensitive and selective Hg2+ detection.
abstract: We report on trypsin-stabilized fluorescent gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) for the sensitive and selective detection of Hg(2+) ions. The Au NCs have an average size of 1 nm and show a red emission at 645 nm. The photostable properties of the trypsin-stabilized Au NCs were examined, and their photochemical stability was found to be similar to that of CdSe quantum dots. The fluorescence was particularly quenched by Hg(2+), and therefore the Au NCs can be used as fluorescent sensors for sensitive and selective Hg(2+) detection to a detection limit of 50 ± 10 nM and the quantitative detection of Hg(2+) in wide and low concentration range of 50-600 nM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, Materials and Bioengineering, Kansai University, 3-3-35 Yamate, Suita, Osaka 564–8680, Japan. hkawa@kansai-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Kouta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arakawa
mesh_terms: D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014357:Trypsin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D006046:Gold; C058667:cadmium selenide; D014357:Trypsin; D008628:Mercury