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Visual and optical colorimetric detection of l-cysteine in biological samples using gold/silver alloy nanoparticles

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Abstract

l-cysteine (Cys) is an important biomolecule responsible for many biological processes including gene regulation and intracellular signaling. Therefore the detection of Cys in biological samples is highly needed in the recent years. In the present study, we describe the use of gold/silver alloy nanoparticles (Au/Ag alloy NPs) as a probe for the colorimetric detection of Cys using UV–vis spectrophotometric method with high sensitivity and selectivity. Au/Ag alloy NPs were prepared by chemical reduction method and their morphological properties were characterized by using various analytical techniques. After the addition of various Cys concentrations into Au/Ag alloy NPs, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 410 nm decreases continuously and simultaneously a new peak appears at 624 nm, which confirmed the agglomeration of alloy NPs. In addition to that, the aggregation process of Au/Ag alloy NPs was evident from the change of color from yellow to colorless by naked eye. The results clearly demonstrated that the formation of aggregated structure of Au/Ag alloy NPs-Cys and also the formation of Ag–S bond and electrostatic interaction between alloy NPs and Cys molecules. Additionally, the Au/Ag alloy NPs showed good selectivity for Cys detection even in the presence of other amino acids. Furthermore, the current approach showed good linearity in 2.00 μM to 18.00 μM range, with a limit of detection of 0.42 μM and a correlation value of 0.9934. The present technique was successfully utilized for the detection of Cys in human serum samples. As a result, the Au/Ag alloy NPs-Cys colorimetric assay is an uncomplicated, rapid, cost-effective, highly sensitive and selective determination method for monitoring and examining Cys.

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Acknowledgements

The author, M. Ilanchelian, expresses gratitude to the DST-SERB project for providing financial support (project No. EEQ/2021/000469, dated 02.03.2022). T. Sasikumar expresses gratitude to the University Grants Commission (UGC)-BSR Research Fellowship (SRF) Government of India for their financial assistance (F.25-1/ 2014-15(BSR)7-26/2007/ (BSR) dated: 05.11.2015).

Funding

DST-SERB project, project No. EEQ/2021/000469, dated 02.03.2022, Ilanchelian Malaichamy, University Grants Commission (UGC)-BSR Research Fellowship (SRF), F.25-1/2014-15(BSR)7-26/2007/ (BSR) dated: 05.11.2015, Sasikumar Thangarasu

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India

    Thangarasu Sasikumar & Malaichamy Ilanchelian

  2. Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avda. General Velásquez, 1775, Arica, Chile

    Krishnamoorthy Shanmugaraj

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  1. Thangarasu Sasikumar
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Sasikumar, T., Shanmugaraj, K. & Ilanchelian, M. Visual and optical colorimetric detection of l-cysteine in biological samples using gold/silver alloy nanoparticles. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 35, 501 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-024-12201-7

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