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Differential Interaction of Metal Ions with Gold Nanoclusters and Application in Detection of Cobalt and Cadmium

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Abstract

Interest in biosensing platforms using protein fluorescent gold nanoclusters (FGNCs) has grown significantly in the past due to the unique optical properties they offer. This study investigates the interaction of metal ions with FGNCs, and the structural modifications brought about by the interaction resulting in fluorescence changes of the cluster and its successful application in the detection of two heavy metals, cobalt and cadmium. The binding of cobalt and cadmium to FGNCs synthesized from BSA significantly altered the secondary structure of the protein, causing a change in its hydrophobicity. It also resulted in a change in fluorescence properties of FGNCs by intersystem crossing (ICT) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Cobalt and cadmium could successfully be detected in the range of 5–165 ng/mL (R2 = 0.95) and 20–1000 ng/ mL (R2 = 0.91), respectively, with appreciable sensitivity. The principle was also applied for the detection of Vitamin B12 in commercially available ampoules, validating the proposed method.

Proposed detection method of cadmium and cobalt using FGNCs.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Director CSIR-CFTRI for providing necessary facilities for the work. Mr. Akshath U. S. acknowledges the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for providing senior research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India

    Uchangi Satyaprasad Akshath, Praveena Bhatt & Sridevi Annapurna Singh

  2. Microbiology & Fermentation Technology Department, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, 570020, India

    Uchangi Satyaprasad Akshath & Praveena Bhatt

  3. Department of Protein Chemistry & Technology, CSIR- Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, 570020, India

    Sridevi Annapurna Singh

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  1. Uchangi Satyaprasad Akshath
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Correspondence to Praveena Bhatt.

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Akshath, U.S., Bhatt, P. & Singh, S.A. Differential Interaction of Metal Ions with Gold Nanoclusters and Application in Detection of Cobalt and Cadmium. J Fluoresc 30, 537–545 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-020-02509-y

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