Green synthesis of gold nanoparticle/gelatin/protein nanogels with enhanced bioluminescence/biofluorescence

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C Vol. 105; p. 110101
• Main Authors: Chen, I-Hsiu, Chen, Yu-Fon, Liou, Jhih-Han, Lai, Jinn-Tsyy, Hsu, Chia-Chen, Wang, Nai-Yi, Jan, Jeng-Shiung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Animals; Bioluminescence; Biosynthesis; Cross-link; Crosslinking; Fluorescence; Gelatin; Genipin; Gold; Gold - chemistry; Green Chemistry Technology; Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles; Luminescence; Luminescent Measurements; Materials science; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal-enhanced fluorescence; Metal-enhanced luminescence; Mice; Nanogel; Nanogels - chemistry; Nanoparticles; Nucleation; Polyion complex; Protein biosynthesis; Proteins; RAW 264.7 Cells; Stabilizers (agents); Synthesis; Therapeutic applications; Metal-enhanced luminescence; Nanogel; Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles; Biosynthesis; Cross-link; Metal-enhanced fluorescence; Polyion complex
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.110101

Here we report the green synthesis of gelatin/protein hybrid nanogels containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that collectively exhibit metal-enhanced luminescence/fluorescence (MEL/MEF). The gelatin/protein nanogels, prepared by genipin cross-linking of preformed gelatin/protein polyion complexes (PICs), exhibited sizes ranging between 50 and 200 nm, depending on the weight ratio of gelatin and protein. These nanogels serve as reducing and stabilizing agents for the AuNPs, allowing for nucleation in a gel network that exhibits colloidal stability and MEL/MEF. AuNP/gelatin/HRP and AuNP/gelatin/LTF nanogels presented an ~11-fold enhancement of bioluminescence in an HRP-luminol system and a ~50-fold fluorescence enhancement when compared to free LTF in cell uptake experiments. These hybrid nanogels show promise for optically enhanced diagnosis and other therapeutic applications. [Display omitted] •Green synthesis of a gelatin/protein hybrid nanogel containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).•AuNP/gelatin/protein hybrid nanogel exhibiting metal-enhanced luminescence/fluorescence.•AuNP/gelatin/LTF nanogels exhibiting enhancement of fluorescence (~50-fold) as compared to free LTF.•AuNP/gelatin/HRP nanogels exhibited enhanced bioluminescence (~11-fold) in an HRP-luminol system.