0000000000431661
AUTHOR
Karolina Sokolowska
Covalent and non-covalent coupling of a Au102 nanocluster with a fluorophore : energy transfer, quenching and intracellular pH sensing
Interactions between an atomically precise gold nanocluster Au102(p-MBA)44 (p-MBA = para mercaptobenzoic acid) and a fluorescent organic dye molecule (KU, azadioxatriangulenium) are studied. In solution, the constituents form spontaneously a weakly bound complex leading to quenching of fluorescence of the KU dye via energy transfer. The KU can be separated from the complex by lowering pH, leading to recovery of fluorescence, which forms a basis for an optical reversible pH sensor. However, the sensor is not a stable entity, which could be delivered inside cells. For this purpose, a covalently bound hybrid is synthesized by linking the KU dye to the ligand layer of the cluster via an ester b…
Surface modification of gold nanoparticles and nanoclusters
Gold nanoparticles are used in many beneficial technological applications in biochemistry, medicine and electronics. Among them, monolayer protected gold nanoclusters (MPCs) have received a significant attention in the scientific community due to their well-defined atomic structure, which is important for fundamental studies of nanoparticles properties and their functionalization. These particles, with a precise number of atoms, exhibit size-dependent optical, chemical and electronic properties. The thesis focuses on the structure, preparation, characterization, and properties of MPCs. For multifunctional applications, gold nanoparticles are an ideal class of compounds for surface functiona…