BSA-Au nanoclusters

Bovine serum albumin-modified gold nanoclusters (BSA-Au NCs) are nanomaterials combining gold nanoclusters and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Composed of several to dozens of gold atoms forming the core of the gold nanoclusters, BSA acts as a protective ligand, coating the surface of the gold nanoclusters. BSA-Au NCs are widely used due to their high luminescence properties and stability over a wide pH range. When Au(III) ions are introduced into a BSA solution, BSA acts as a scaffold protein, isolating and capturing Au ions, similar to the biomineralization behavior of inorganic ions in organisms in nature. The captured Au ions are then reduced in situ by BSA to form Au NCs. The synthesized Au NCs consist of 25-Au atoms and are stable in BSA as BSA-Au NCs, exhibiting strong red fluorescence. BSA-Au NCs possess good biocompatibility and their surface is easily modified or functionalized, making them attractive for many biomedical applications.