1. Synthesis of DNA-templated fluorescent gold nanoclusters
- Author
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Liu, Guiying, Shao, Yong, Ma, Kun, Cui, Qinghua, Wu, Fei, and Xu, Shujuan
- Subjects
Nucleotide sequence ,Gold -- Atomic properties -- Chemical properties ,Nanotechnology -- Research ,Chemical synthesis -- Research ,Metals, metalworking and machinery industries - Abstract
Water-soluble and red-emitting gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) were synthesized with single-stranded DNA as a promising biotemplate and dimethylamine borane as a mild reductant. The fluorescent Au NCs can be formed in a weakly acidic aqueous solution that is free from the simultaneous formation of large nanoparticles. The cluster feature of the formed Au species has been revealed by fluorescence spectra, absorption spectra, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, DNA sequences could be used to tune the Au NCs' emissions. The asprepared Au NCs display high stability at physiological pH condition, and thus, wide potential applications are anticipated for the biocompatible fluorescent Au NCs serving as nanoprobes in bioimaging and related fields. Keywords Gold nanoclusters * Fluorescence * DNA * Dimethylamine borane * Template, Introduction Decreasing the size of noble metal nanostructures (mainly Au and Ag) down to less than 2 nm will produce nanoclusters (NCs) and restrict the motion of their free electrons [...]
- Published
- 2012
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