title: Highly fluorescent gold nanoclusters stabilized by food proteins: From preparation to application in detection of food contaminants and bioactive nutrients.
abstract: Applications of nanotechnology in food have rapidly increased in the past decades. Ultra-small gold nanoclusters (Au NCs), composed of several to roughly a hundred atoms, represent a kind of novel nanomaterials. The Au NCs directed by food proteins have drawn considerable research attention due to their environment-friendly preparation, strong fluorescence, excellent photo-stability, and favorable biocompatibility. These interesting protein-Au hybrids have opened up a new area at the nano-bio-food interface, not only did they provide the missing link between single metal atoms and plasmonic metal nanoparticles, but also developed the hybrid system between biomacromolecule and inorganic ions. In this review, we highlighted the synthesis strategies and optical properties of the Au NCs stabilized by typical food proteins as well as their applications in detection of food contaminants or bioactive nutrients. In addition, we discussed current challenges and future development in food proteins- directed gold nanoclusters for size-controlled synthesis and multifunctional applications.
authors: a Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering , China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources , Beijing , P. R. China.
authors: Changan
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8242-674X
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: a Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering , China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources , Beijing , P. R. China.
authors: Hai
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5944-8411
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: b Key Laboratory of Space Nutrition and Food Engineering , China Astronaut Research and Training Center , Beijing , China.
authors: Bin
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8160-0133
authors: B
authors: Chen
authors: a Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering , China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources , Beijing , P. R. China.
authors: Guanghua
authors: G
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D006046:Gold
keywords: Protein; bioactive nutrients; detection; fluorescence; food contaminants; gold nanoclusters