Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutics
The use of proteins as biomolecular templates to synthesize atomically precise metal nanoclusters has been gaining traction due to their appealing properties such as photoluminescence, good colloidal- and photostability and biocompatibility. The synergistic effect of using a protein scaffold and met...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/14/5531 |
| _version_ | 1797588036009066496 |
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| author | Sherwin Chong Li Tan Zhijian He Guan Wang Yong Yu Le Yang |
| author_facet | Sherwin Chong Li Tan Zhijian He Guan Wang Yong Yu Le Yang |
| author_sort | Sherwin Chong Li Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of proteins as biomolecular templates to synthesize atomically precise metal nanoclusters has been gaining traction due to their appealing properties such as photoluminescence, good colloidal- and photostability and biocompatibility. The synergistic effect of using a protein scaffold and metal nanoclusters makes it especially attractive for biomedical applications. Unlike other reviews, we focus on proteins in general as the protective ligand for various metal nanoclusters and highlight their applications in the biomedical field. We first introduce the approaches and underlined principles in synthesizing protein-templated metal nanoclusters and summarize some of the typical proteins that have been used thus far. Afterwards, we highlight the key physicochemical properties and the characterization techniques commonly used for the size, structure and optical properties of protein-templated metal nanoclusters. We feature two case studies to illustrate the importance of combining these characterization techniques to elucidate the formation process of protein-templated metal nanoclusters. Lastly, we highlight the promising applications of protein-templated metal nanoclusters in three areas—biosensing, diagnostics and therapeutics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:47:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2e4ae8a7b2a42068cb6d3c075b274cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:47:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2e4ae8a7b2a42068cb6d3c075b274cc2023-11-18T20:43:29ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-07-012814553110.3390/molecules28145531Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and PharmaceuticsSherwin Chong Li Tan0Zhijian He1Guan Wang2Yong Yu3Le Yang4Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, SingaporeDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, SingaporeInstitute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, SingaporeInstitute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, SingaporeInstitute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, SingaporeThe use of proteins as biomolecular templates to synthesize atomically precise metal nanoclusters has been gaining traction due to their appealing properties such as photoluminescence, good colloidal- and photostability and biocompatibility. The synergistic effect of using a protein scaffold and metal nanoclusters makes it especially attractive for biomedical applications. Unlike other reviews, we focus on proteins in general as the protective ligand for various metal nanoclusters and highlight their applications in the biomedical field. We first introduce the approaches and underlined principles in synthesizing protein-templated metal nanoclusters and summarize some of the typical proteins that have been used thus far. Afterwards, we highlight the key physicochemical properties and the characterization techniques commonly used for the size, structure and optical properties of protein-templated metal nanoclusters. We feature two case studies to illustrate the importance of combining these characterization techniques to elucidate the formation process of protein-templated metal nanoclusters. Lastly, we highlight the promising applications of protein-templated metal nanoclusters in three areas—biosensing, diagnostics and therapeutics.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/14/5531protein-templating synthesismetal nanoclustersnanohybridsluminescencecore-shell structurebiosensors |
| spellingShingle | Sherwin Chong Li Tan Zhijian He Guan Wang Yong Yu Le Yang Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutics Molecules protein-templating synthesis metal nanoclusters nanohybrids luminescence core-shell structure biosensors |
| title | Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutics |
| title_full | Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutics |
| title_fullStr | Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutics |
| title_short | Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters: Molecular-like Hybrids for Biosensing, Diagnostics and Pharmaceutics |
| title_sort | protein templated metal nanoclusters molecular like hybrids for biosensing diagnostics and pharmaceutics |
| topic | protein-templating synthesis metal nanoclusters nanohybrids luminescence core-shell structure biosensors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/14/5531 |
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