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Fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are envisaged as a novel type of fluorophores. This work reports on the first comparative study investigating the effect of presence/absence/abundance of fatty acids (namely palmitic acid, PA) or other substances (like glycoproteins and globulins) in the protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) on synthesis and properties of the final AuNCs. The most popular template (BSA) and microwave (MW)-assisted synthesis of AuNCs have been intentionally chosen. Our results clearly demonstrate that the fluorescent characteristics (i.e., fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield) are affected by the fatty acids and/or other substances. Importantly, the as-prepared AuNCs are biocompatible, as determined by Alamar Blue assay performed on Hep G2 cell line.

A kind of novel hybrid membrane for the detection and separation of mercury ion (Hg 2+ ) was fabricated by filtrating gold nanocluster embedded bovine serum albumin (AuNCs@BSA) nanofibers and graphene oxide (GO). With the help of N-ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide, the BSA nanofiber and graphene oxide (GO) can be covalently binded due to the reaction between amino and carboxyl groups. The separation mechanism of the hybrid membrane are attributed to the high-affinity metallophilic Hg 2+ -Au + interactions, Hg 2+ -cysteine residue binding as well as electrostatic interaction. The experimental results indicated that the created GO-AuNCs@BSA hybrid membrane exhibits excellent performance for removing Hg 2+ pollutants from water. The adsorbing efficiency of Hg 2+ can reach up to 90.45% at the first cycle and the separation process can be repeated numerous times without damaging the membrane structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are envisaged as a novel type of fluorophores. This work reports on the first comparative study investigating the effect of presence/absence/abundance of fatty acids (namely palmitic acid, PA) or other substances (like glycoproteins and globulins) in the protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) on synthesis and properties of the final AuNCs. The most popular template (BSA) and microwave (MW)-assisted synthesis of AuNCs have been intentionally chosen. Our results clearly demonstrate that the fluorescent characteristics (i.e., fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield) are affected by the fatty acids and/or other substances. Importantly, the as-prepared AuNCs are biocompatible, as determined by Alamar Blue assay performed on Hep G2 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]