Calcium carbonate-gold nanocluster hybrid spheres: synthesis and versatile application in immunoassays

Fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were incorporated into porous calcium carbonate spheres through electrostatic interaction. The resulting CaCO(3)/AuNCs hybrid material exhibited interesting properties, such as porous structure, excellent biocompatibility, good water solubility, and degradability. These properties make the CaCO(3)/AuNCs hybrid material a promising template to assemble horseradish peroxidase/antibody conjugates (HRP-Ab(2)). By using CaCO(3)/AuNCs/HRP-Ab(2) bioconjugates as probes, a versatile immunosensor was developed for fluorescent and electrochemical detection of the cancer biomarker neuron-specific enolase (NSE). The detection limits of the sensor were 2.0 and 0.1 pg mL(-1) for fluorescent and electrochemical detection, respectively. The immunosensor shows high sensitivity and offers an alternative strategy for the detection of other proteins and DNA.     

Calcium Carbonate–Gold Nanocluster Hybrid Spheres: Synthesis and Versatile Application in Immunoassays

Fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were incorporated into porous calcium carbonate spheres through electrostatic interaction. The resulting CaCO₃/AuNCs hybrid material exhibited interesting properties, such as porous structure, excellent biocompatibility, good water solubility, and degradability. These properties make the CaCO₃/AuNCs hybrid material a promising template to assemble horseradish peroxidase/antibody conjugates (HRP‐Ab₂). By using CaCO₃/AuNCs/HRP‐Ab₂ bioconjugates as probes, a versatile immunosensor was developed for fluorescent and electrochemical detection of the cancer biomarker neuron‐specific enolase (NSE). The detection limits of the sensor were 2.0 and 0.1 pg mL^?1 for fluorescent and electrochemical detection, respectively. The immunosensor shows high sensitivity and offers an alternative strategy for the detection of other proteins and DNA.     

Gold Nanoclusters Templated by Poly-cytosine DNA as Fluorescent Probes for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Thiocyanate

Gold nanoclusters(AuNCs) were prepared in the presence of the nucleobases of poly-cytosine DNAs in this paper. We have demonstrated tliat the fluorescence of the AuNCs is quenched by thiocyanate(SCN^-) through the interaction between SCN^- and gold atoms. AuNCs can receive energy from nucleobases to boost their emission intensity, while in the presence of SCN^-, they coordinate with Au atoms and influence the energy transfer between the nucleobases and AuNCs, leading to the fluorescence quenching. The decreased fluorescence intensity was in proportion to the concentration of SCN^- in the range of 8.0×10^-7-1.5×10^-5 mol/L with a limit of detection of 4.2×10^-7 mol/L(3σ). We further validated the practice of this probe througli the detection of SCbT in natural water samples.     

Immunoassay of plasmonic gold‐nanoparticle clusters: Plasmon coupling effects for Parkinson biomarker detection

A simple signal‐on plasmonic optical assay for the detection of the Parkinson biomarker using gold‐nanoparticle clusters (AuNCs) for signal amplification is presented. This approach is based on the improvement of the optical density (OD) change of the plasmonic band of a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) Au nanoparticle (AuNP) sensor interface using Au NCs conjugated antibodies. The amplification results in a 260‐fold improvement in concentration detection, from 1,000 ng/mL (unlabeled antibody) to 3.8 ng/mL (antibody‐conjugated AuNCs). The sensitivity enhancement can be ascribed to the further plasmonic coupling between the antibody‐conjugated AuNCs and the AuNPs on the LSPR interface and the enhanced amount of target molecule bound to the bioassay. This AuNCs‐assisted signal amplification strategy allows for improving the sensitivity of the plasmon‐based bioassays and can be extended to other optical‐based diagnostic technologies. Importantly, the simple detecting procedure and protocol assembly make it competitive with other existing sensing technologies such as ELISA, allowing for practical usage in clinical diagnostics.     

A sensitive electrochemical sensor for detection of rutin based on a gold nanocage‐modified electrode

In this article, an electrochemical sensor based on a gold nanocage (AuNC)‐modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was fabricated and applied to the sensitive rutin determination. The presence of AuNCs on the electrode surface greatly improved the electrochemical performance of the working electrode due to its specific microstructure and high metal conductivity. Electrochemical behavior of rutin on AuNCs/CILE was studied using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry with the related electrochemical parameters calculated. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the oxidation peak current of rutin and its concentration had good linear relationship in the range from 4.0 × 10^?9 to 7.0 × 10^?4 mol/L with a low detection limit of 1.33 × 10^?9 mol/L (3σ). This fabricated AuNCs/CILE was applied to direct detection of the rutin concentration in drug samples with satisfactory results, showing the real application of AuNCs in the field of chemically modified electrodes.     

Facile preparation of chitin nanowhisker–gold nanocluster hybrids: effect of feeding ratio and surface amino group contents on gold absorption amount

Chitin nanowhiskers (ChNWs) hybridized with the densely adsorbed gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were facilely prepared by a simple mixing of aqueous suspensions of ChNWs and AuNCs. Adsorption of AuNCs on the ChNW surface was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The amounts of adsorbed AuNCs measured by thermogravimetry and combustion using a muffle furnace were in good agreement. While the amount of adsorbed AuNCs increased with AuNCs/ChNWs feeding ratio, we found only a weak dependence of adsorbed AuNC amount on the surface amino group content of ChNWs controlled by pre‐deacetylation of the starting chitin. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Size‐dependent electrophoretic migration and separation of water‐soluble gold nanoclusters by capillary electrophoresis

Recently, water‐soluble gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have attracted more and more attention due to their unique properties. In this study, penicillamine‐protected gold nanoclusters (Pen‐AuNCs) were synthesized and initially fractionated by sequential size‐selective precipitation (SSSP). The crude Pen‐AuNCs and SSSP fractions were separated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with a diode array detector. The effects of key parameters, including the concentration of phosphate buffer, pH value and the ethanol content were systematically investigated. The separation of water‐soluble poly‐disperse AuNCs were well achieved at 30 mM phosphate buffer with 7.5% EtOH, pH 12.0, and applied voltage of 15 kV. The linear correlation between AuNCs diameter and mobility was observed. This finding provides an important reference for CE separation and product purification of water‐soluble AuNCs or other nanomaterials.     

Selective Killing of Breast Cancer Cells by Doxorubicin‐Loaded Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters: Confocal Microscopy and FRET

Fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) capped with lysozymes are used to deliver the anticancer drug doxorubicin to cancer and noncancer cells. Doxorubicin‐loaded AuNCs cause the highly selective and efficient killing (90 %) of breast cancer cells (MCF7) (IC₅₀=155 nm ). In contrast, the killing of the noncancer breast cells (MCF10A) by doxorubicin‐loaded AuNCs is only 40 % (IC₅₀=4500 nm ). By using a confocal microscope, the fluorescence spectrum and decay of the AuNCs were recorded inside the cell. The fluorescence maxima (at ≈490–515 nm) and lifetime (≈2 ns), of the AuNCs inside the cells correspond to Au_10–13. The intracellular release of doxorubicin from AuNCs is monitored by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging.     

Efficient and Monochromatic Electrochemiluminescence of Aqueous‐Soluble Au Nanoclusters via Host–Guest Recognition

Inspired by the enhanced photoluminescence of Au nanoclusters (AuNCs) with a rigid shell, the formation of rigid host–guest assemblies on AuNC surfaces was employed to screen novel electrochemiluminophores with 6‐aza‐2‐thiothymine(ATT)‐protected AuNCs (ATT‐AuNCs) and l ‐arginine (ARG) as models for the first time. The rigid host–guest assemblies formed between ARG and ATT on the ATT‐AuNC surface enabled aqueous‐soluble ARG/ATT‐AuNCs with a dramatically enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) compared to ATT‐AuNCs. This includes one cathodic ECL process (?1.30 V) and three anodic ECL processes (+0.78, 0.90, and 1.05 V) in a so‐called half‐scan experiment without a co‐reactant, as well as a 70‐fold enhanced oxidative‐reduction ECL at +0.78 V with tri‐n‐propylamine as a co‐reactant. Importantly, the ECL of the ARG/ATT‐AuNCs is highly monochromatic with an emission maximum around 532 nm and a full width at half‐maximum of 36 nm, which is of great interest for color‐selective ECL assays.     

Ratiometric fluorescence and visual sensing of ATP based on gold nanocluster-encapsulated metal-organic framework with a smartphone

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) plays an important role in various biological processes and the ATP level is closely associated with many diseases. Herein, we designed a novel dual-emissive fluorescence nanoplatform for ATP sensing based on red emissive europium metal-organic framework (Eu-MOF) and blue emissive gold nanoclusters (AuNCs). The presence of ATP causes the decomposition of Eu-MOF owing to strong affinity of Eu³⁺ with ATP. As a result, the red emission of Eu-MOF decreases while the blue emission of AuNCs remains unchanged. The distinct red/blue emission intensity change enables the establishment of a ratiometric fluorescent and visual sensor of ATP. Moreover, a fluorescent paper-based sensor was fabricated with the ratiometric ATP probes, which enabled easy-to-use and visual detection of ATP in serum samples with a smartphone.     

Dual Enhancement of Gold Nanocluster Electrochemiluminescence: Electrocatalytic Excitation and Aggregation‐Induced Emission

Ligand‐protected gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have emerged as a new class of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophores for their interesting catalytic and emission properties, although their quantum yield (Φ_ECL) in aqueous medium is low with a poor mechanistic understanding of the ECL process. Now it is shown that drying AuNCs on electrodes enabled both enhanced electrochemical excitation by an electrocatalytic effect, and enhanced emission by aggregation‐induced ECL (AIECL) for 6‐aza‐2‐thiothymine (ATT) protected AuNCs with triethylamine (TEA) as a coreactant. The dried ATT‐AuNCs/TEA system resulted in highly stable visual ECL with a Φ_ECL of 78 %, and a similar enhancement was also achieved with methionine‐capped AuNCs. The drying enabled dual‐enhancement mechanism has solved a challenging mechanistic problem for AuNC ECL probes, and can guide further rational design of ECL emitters.     

Electrochemical behavior of organosoluble gold nanoclusters and its application

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - This contribution described the electrochemical study of organosoluble gold nanoclusters (AuNCs).The AuNCs were characterized with UV-vis absorption...     

Gold Nanoclusters for Targeting Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus In Vivo

Widespread multidrug resistance caused by the abuse of antibiotics calls for novel strategies and materials. Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are scarcely explored for combating multidrug‐resistant (MDR) bacteria in vivo. We herein synthesized a novel class of AuNCs, namely quaternary ammonium (QA) capped AuNCs (QA‐AuNCs) as potent antibiotics selectively targeting MDR Gram‐positive bacteria, including methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococci (VRE), in vivo. QA‐AuNCs kill bacteria through a combined physicochemical mechanism, and show excellent therapeutic effects in both a skin infection model and a bacteremia model induced by MRSA. In addition, owing to their intense fluorescence, QA‐AuNCs can be used for the discrimination of live/dead bacteria and bacteria counting, suggesting their potential for clinical theranostics.     

Plasmonic Enhancement of Two-Photon Excited Luminescence of Gold Nanoclusters

Plasmonic-enhanced luminescence of single molecules enables imaging and detection of low quantities of fluorophores, down to individual molecules. In this work, we present two-photon excited luminescence of single gold nanoclusters, Au₁₈(SG)₁₄, in close proximity to bare gold nanorods (AuNRs). We observed 25-times enhanced emission of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) in near infrared region, which was mainly attributed to the resonant excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AuNRs and spectral overlap of LSPR band with photoluminescence of AuNCs. This work is an initial step in application of combined nanoparticles: gold nanorods and ultrasmall nanoclusters in a wide range of multiphoton imaging and biosensing applications.     

The density of surface ligands regulates the luminescence of thiolated gold nanoclusters and their metal ion response

The fascinating luminescence properties of gold nanoclusters(AuNCs) have drawn considerable research interests,and been widely harnessed for a wide range of applications.However,a fundamental understanding towards ligand density's role in the luminescence properties of these ultrasmall AuNCs remains unclear yet.In this communication,through systematic investigation of surface chemistries of glutathione-protected Au NCs(GSH-Au NCs) with diffe rent density of GSH as well as other thiolates,it is discovered that the density of surface ligands can significantly regulate the luminescence properties of AuNCs.Fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that AuNCs with a higher density of electron-rich ligands facilitate their luminescence generation.Moreover,differences in the surface coverage of AuNCs can also affect their interactions with foreign species,as illustrated by significantly different fluorescence quenching capability of GSH-AuNCs with different ligand density towards Hg~(2+).This study provides new insight into the intriguing luminescence properties of metal NCs,which is hoped to stimulate further research on the design of metal NCs with strong luminescence and sensitive/specific responses for promising optoelectronic,sensing and imaging applications.     

Dual Enhancement of Gold Nanocluster Electrochemiluminescence: Electrocatalytic Excitation and Aggregation-Induced Emission

Ligand-protected gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have emerged as a new class of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophores for their interesting catalytic and emission properties, although their quantum yield (Φ_ECL) in aqueous medium is low with a poor mechanistic understanding of the ECL process. Now it is shown that drying AuNCs on electrodes enabled both enhanced electrochemical excitation by an electrocatalytic effect, and enhanced emission by aggregation-induced ECL (AIECL) for 6-aza-2-thiothymine (ATT) protected AuNCs with triethylamine (TEA) as a coreactant. The dried ATT-AuNCs/TEA system resulted in highly stable visual ECL with a Φ_ECL of 78 %, and a similar enhancement was also achieved with methionine-capped AuNCs. The drying enabled dual-enhancement mechanism has solved a challenging mechanistic problem for AuNC ECL probes, and can guide further rational design of ECL emitters.     

An in situ nanoparticle recombinant strategy for the enhancement of photothermal therapy

Photothermal therapy(PTT)-induced immune response has attracted much attention, however, which cannot work at full capacity. In this study, the simvastatin(SV) adjuvant is loaded into gold nanocages(AuNCs) to develop a simple drug delivery system, which can efficiently utilize the tumor-associated antigens(TAAs) for improving immune responses. AuNCs/SV-mediated PTT treatment enhances tumor cells damage and promotes the release of TAAs which are immediately captured by Au NCs/SV to form AuNCs/SV/...     

Water-Dispersible Gold Nanoclusters: Synthesis Strategies,Optical Properties,and Biological Applications

Atomically precise gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are an emerging class of quantum-sized nanomaterials. Intrinsic discrete electronic energy levels have endowed them with fascinating electronic and optical properties. They have been widely applied in the fields of optoelectronics, photovoltaics, catalysis, biochemical sensing, bio-imaging, and therapeutics. Nevertheless, most AuNCs are synthesized in organic solvents and do not disperse in aqueous solutions; this restricts their biological applications. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in the preparation of water-dispersible AuNCs and their biological applications. We first review different methods of synthesis, including direct synthesis from hydrophilic templates and indirect phase transfer of hydrophobic AuNCs. We then discuss their photophysical properties, such as emission enhancement and fluorescence lifetimes. Next, we summarize their latest applications in the fields of biosensing, biolabeling, and bioimaging. Finally, we outline the challenges and potential for the future development of these AuNCs.     

Fluorescent gold nanoclusters as pH sensors for the pH 5 to 9 range and for imaging of blood cell pH values

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe the use of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with a diameter of ~2 nm for fluorescent sensing of pH values in the range from 5 to 9. The AuNCs were synthesized in...     

Pre‐oxidation of Gold Nanoclusters Results in a 66 % Anodic Electrochemiluminescence Yield and Drives Mechanistic Insights

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are attractive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters because of their excellent stability, near IR emission, and biocompatibility. However, their ECL quantum yield is relatively low, and our limited fundamental understanding has hindered rational improvement of this parameter. Herein, we report drastic enhancement of the ECL of ligand‐stabilized AuNCs by on‐electrode pre‐oxidation with triethylamine (TEA) as a co‐reactant. The l ‐methionine‐stabilized AuNCs resulted in a record high ECL yield of 66 %. This strategy was successfully extended to other AuNCs, and it is more effective for ligand shells that allow more effective electron transfer. In addition, excitation of the pre‐oxidized ECL required a lower potential than conventional methods, and no additional instrument was required. This work opens avenues for solving a challenging problem of AuNC‐based ECL probes and enriches fundamental understanding, greatly broadening their potential applications.