Development of PEGylated Cu nanoclusters: A nontoxic, multifunctional colloidal system for bioimaging and peroxide sensing

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 1867; no. 7; p. 130372
• Main Authors: Chandran, Neeli, Janardhanan, Prajit, Bayal, Manikanta, Pilankatta, Rajendra, Nair, Swapna S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Bioimaging; chemical bonding; Copper; Copper nanoclusters; cytotoxicity; detection limit; Fluorescence; HeLa Cells; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles; nanoparticles; oxidation; oxidative stress; Peroxides; Polyethylene Glycols; Sensing; Surface functionalization; thiols; Surface functionalization; Fluorescence; Bioimaging; Sensing; Copper nanoclusters
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130372

This study introduces the development of blue-emitting colloidal Cu NCs through a novel and easy PEGylation method using different functional groups, including -SH and -COOH. The surface functionalization controls the size, cellular toxicity, and emission properties of Cu NCs. The combination of PEG, thiol, and carboxylic groups protects the particle surface from aggregation and oxidation. Among the samples, CAGP (Surface modified Cu NCs with -SH-COOH-PEG combination) emerges as an amazing candidate with the lowest toxicity and enhanced blue emission properties. The bright blue fluorescence emission from Hela cells after treatment with CAGP demonstrated this property. It also has excellent peroxide sensing potential, with a detection limit of 1.4 μM. Because of their excellent bioimaging and peroxide sensing properties, these Cu NCs could be a promising candidate for cellular oxidative stress sensing applications with high clinical relevance. [Display omitted] •Blue-emitting colloidal Cu NCs are synthesized through a novel and easy PEGylation method.•The surface functionalization controls the size, cellular toxicity, and emission properties of Cu NCs.•-SH-COOH-PEG modified Cu NCs emerges as an amazing candidate with lowest toxicity and enhanced blue emission properties.•It exhibits excellent peroxide sensing potential with a limit of detection of 1.4 μM and bioimaging potential.•It might be a promising candidate for cellular oxidative stress sensing applications.