Facile synthesis of gold-silver alloy nanoparticles for application in metal enhanced bioluminescence

Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2014 Jul;13(7):986-91. doi: 10.1039/c4pp00046c. Epub 2014 May 28.

Abstract

In the present study we explored metal enhanced bioluminescence in luciferase enzymes for the first time. For this purpose a simple and reproducible one pot synthesis of gold-silver alloy nanoparticles was developed. By changing the molar ratio of tri-sodium citrate and silver nitrate we could synthesize spherical Au-Ag colloids of sizes ranging from 10 to 50 nm with a wide range of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks (450-550 nm). The optical tunability of the Au-Ag colloids enabled their effective use in enhancement of bioluminescence in a luminescent bacterium Photobacterium leiognathi and in luciferase enzyme systems from fireflies and bacteria. Enhancement of bioluminescence was 250% for bacterial cells, 95% for bacterial luciferase and 52% for firefly luciferase enzyme. The enhancement may be a result of energy transfer or plasmon induced enhancement. Such an increase can lead to higher sensitivity in detection of bioluminescent signals with potential applications in bio-analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alloys / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Citrates / chemistry
  • Colloids / chemistry
  • Fireflies / enzymology
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Luciferases, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Luciferases, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Luciferases, Firefly / chemistry
  • Luciferases, Firefly / metabolism
  • Luminescent Measurements*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Particle Size
  • Photobacterium / enzymology
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Silver Nitrate / chemistry
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Citrates
  • Colloids
  • trisodium citrate
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Silver Nitrate
  • Luciferases, Firefly
  • Luciferases, Bacterial