Biomolecules in Metal and Semiconductor Nanoparticle Growth

Abstract

Exerting control over the size, morphology, and complexity of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles and nanostructures is a requisite for exploring novel phenomena, and the potential applications of these nanomaterials. Bottom‐up colloidal chemistry syntheses can benefit from using biomolecules as active elements to influence the formation of inorganic nanoparticles. In this review, we will discuss how three main biomolecule types, (namely DNA; amino acids, peptides, and proteins; and enzymes), can affect the growth of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles. We will present and discuss the templating and non‐templating roles of those biomolecules, featuring key aspects and prospects of biomolecule‐assisted metal and semiconductor nanoparticle growth.

Physicochemical Study of the Interaction between Gold Nanoparticles and Lipase from Candida sp. (CALB): Insights into the Nano-Bio Interface

“…The interaction between proteins and metallic nanoparticles is attributed to the preferential interaction of the amino acid residues from proteins onto nanocrystal facets. 15 It was proposed that this interaction pattern is followed by the anchoring, crawling and further binding of the biomolecule on the nanocrystals. 15,68 As observed by TEM images, these interactions do not have impact on the AuNP's size and morphology but induces changes in the SPR band.…”

“…15 It was proposed that this interaction pattern is followed by the anchoring, crawling and further binding of the biomolecule on the nanocrystals. 15,68 As observed by TEM images, these interactions do not have impact on the AuNP's size and morphology but induces changes in the SPR band. Therefore, to further elucidate the interactions and their influence on the physicochemical properties of the hybrid materials, the reciprocal effects of the interactions on the individual components (AuNPs and CALB) were investigated.…”

“…[11][12][13][14] Based on these reasons and for prospecting new eco-friendly approaches, biomolecules have been used as suitable capping agents for AuNPs. [15][16][17] Nevertheless, despite the increasing interest in this field, few studies are reported in the literature 16,[18][19][20] using enzymes as the interacting molecules for AuNPs.…”

Highly stable and biocompatible gold nanorod–DNA conjugates as NIR probes for ultrafast sequence-selective DNA melting

“…23 This can be achieved by interfacing their surface with biocompatible polymers, such as polyethyleneglycol (PEG), [24][25][26] or with biomolecules. 23,27 Here, DNA is particularly advantageous due to its sequence-specic recognition capability that can be used to obtain nanoparticle assemblies of varying complexity and with optimized or new properties. [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Spherical gold nanoparticles can be easily functionalized with DNA oligonucleotides by direct graing of thiol-ending oligonucleotides 36 or by direct adsorption of unmodied oligonucleotides [37][38][39] due to the accessibility of their surface and the straightforward displacement of citrate ions.…”

Mechanistic Insights into the Light-Driven Catalysis of an Immobilized Lipase on Plasmonic Nanomaterials

“…30,31 CALB presents ten thiolated residues in its structure, of which four are methionine and six are cysteine residues, forming three disulfide bonds 32 and providing favorable conditions for anchoring enzymes onto the NPs surface. 27 AuNSt were synthesized by a seed-mediated growth method, 33,34 using ascorbic acid as reducing agent, silver nitrate to assist the growth of spiky nanostructures, and CALB as stabilizing molecule. AuNSp were synthesized according to the Turkevich method 35 and subsequently coated by CALB.…”