抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Atomically precise pieces of matter of nanometer dimensions composed of noble metals are new categories of materials with many unusual properties. Over 100 molecules of this kind with formulas such as Au25(SR)18, Au38(SR)24, and Au102(SR)44 as well as Ag25(SR)18, Ag29(S2R)12, and Ag44(SR)30 (often with a few counterions to compensate charges) are known now. They can be made reproducibly with robust synthetic protocols, resulting in colored solutions, yielding powders or diffractable crystals. They are distinctly different from nanoparticles in their spectroscopic properties such as optical absorption and emission, showing well-defined features, just like molecules. They show isotopically resolved molecular ion peaks in mass spectra and provide diverse information when examined through multiple instrumental methods. Most important of these properties is luminescence, often in the visible–near-infrared window, useful in biological applications. Luminescence in the visible region, especially by clusters prot...

Atomically Precise Clusters of Noble Metals: Emerging Link between Atoms and Nanoparticles

Ultra-small fluorescent metal nanoclusters: Synthesis and biological applications

This article gives an overview of the various kinds of nanoparticles (NPs) that are widely used for purposes of fluorescent imaging, mainly of cells and tissues. Following an introduction and a discussion of merits of fluorescent NPs compared to molecular fluorophores, labels and probes, the article assesses the kinds and specific features of nanomaterials often used in bioimaging. These include fluorescently doped silicas and sol–gels, hydrophilic polymers (hydrogels), hydrophobic organic polymers, semiconducting polymer dots, quantum dots, carbon dots, other carbonaceous nanomaterials, upconversion NPs, noble metal NPs (mainly gold and silver), various other nanomaterials, and dendrimers. Another section covers coatings and methods for surface modification of NPs. Specific examples on the use of nanoparticles in (a) plain fluorescence imaging of cells, (b) targeted imaging, (c) imaging of chemical species, and (d) imaging of temperature are given next. A final section covers aspects of multimodal imaging (such as fluorescence/nmr), imaging combined with drug and gene delivery, or imaging combined with therapy or diagnosis. The electronic supplementary information (ESI) gives specific examples for materials and methods used in imaging, sensing, multimodal imaging and theranostics such as imaging combined with drug delivery or photodynamic therapy. The article contains 273 references in the main part, and 157 references in the ESI.

/pdf/an-overview-of-nanoparticles-commonly-used-in-fluorescent-3rwwargmic.pdf

An overview of nanoparticles commonly used in fluorescent bioimaging

Silver nanoparticles: A new view on mechanistic aspects on antimicrobial activity

We report the synthesis of highly luminescent, water soluble quantum clusters (QCs) of gold, which are stabilized by an iron binding transferrin family protein, lactoferrin (Lf). The synthesized AuQC@Lf clusters were characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), FTIR spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy along with picosecond-resolved lifetime measurements. Detailed investigations with FTIR and CD spectroscopy have revealed changes in the secondary structure of the protein in the cluster. We have also studied Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurring between the protein and the cluster. The ability of the clusters to sense cupric ions selectively at ppm concentrations was tested. The stability of clusters in widely varying pH conditions and their continued luminescence make it feasible for them to be used for intracellular imaging and molecular delivery, particularly in view of Lf protection.

/pdf/luminescent-quantum-clusters-of-gold-in-transferrin-family-raa9bgopwv.pdf

Luminescent quantum clusters of gold in transferrin family protein, lactoferrin exhibiting FRET.

We show that the time-dependent biomineralization of Au3+ by native lactoferrin (NLf) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) resulting in near-infrared (NIR) luminescent gold quantum clusters (QCs) occurs through a protein-bound Au1+ intermediate and subsequent emergence of free protein. The evolution was probed by diverse tools, principally, using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The importance of alkaline pH in the formation of clusters was probed. At neutral pH, a Au1+–protein complex was formed (starting from Au3+) with the binding of 13–14 gold atoms per protein. When the pH was increased above 12, these bound gold ions were further reduced to Au(0) and nucleation and growth of cluster commenced, which was corroborated by the beginning of emission; at this point, the number of gold atoms per protein was ∼25, suggesting the formation of Au25. During the cluster evolution, at certain time i...

https://www.dstuns.iitm.ac.in/listpdf/245_SI.pdf

Understanding the Evolution of Luminescent Gold Quantum Clusters in Protein Templates

Noble metal quantum clusters (NMQCs) are the missing link between isolated noble metal atoms and nanoparticles. NMQCs are sub-nanometer core sized clusters composed of a group of atoms, most often luminescent in the visible region, and possess intriguing photo-physical and chemical properties. A trend is observed in the use of ligands, ranging from phosphines to functional proteins, for the synthesis of NMQCs in the liquid phase. In this review, we briefly overview recent advancements in the synthesis of protein protected NMQCs with special emphasis on their structural and photo-physical properties. In view of the protein protection, coupled with direct synthesis and easy functionalization, this hybrid QC-protein system is expected to have numerous optical and bioimaging applications in the future, pointers in this direction are visible in the literature.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3402/nano.v3i0.14767

Protein-protected luminescent noble metal quantum clusters: an emerging trend in atomic cluster nanoscience

Creation of affordable materials for constant release of silver ions in water is one of the most promising ways to provide microbially safe drinking water for all. Combining the capacity of diverse nanocomposites to scavenge toxic species such as arsenic, lead, and other contaminants along with the above capability can result in affordable, all-inclusive drinking water purifiers that can function without electricity. The critical problem in achieving this is the synthesis of stable materials that can release silver ions continuously in the presence of complex species usually present in drinking water that deposit and cause scaling on nanomaterial surfaces. Here we show that such constant release materials can be synthesized in a simple and effective fashion in water itself without the use of electrical power. The nanocomposite exhibits river sand-like properties, such as higher shear strength in loose and wet forms. These materials have been used to develop an affordable water purifier to deliver clean drinking water at US $2.5/y per family. The ability to prepare nanostructured compositions at near ambient temperature has wide relevance for adsorption-based water purification.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/110/21/8459.full.pdf

Biopolymer-reinforced synthetic granular nanocomposites for affordable point-of-use water purification

We report the synthesis of luminescent AuAg alloy quantum clusters (QCs) in bovine serum albumin (BSA), for the first time, with experimentally determined atomic composition. Mixing of the as-synthesized protein-protected Au and Ag clusters resulted in the formation of alloy AuAg clusters within the BSA. Mass spectrometric analysis of the product of a 1:1 molar ratio reaction mixture of AuQC@BSA and AgQC@BSA suggested that the alloy clusters could be Au38−xAgx@BSA. Further analyses by standard techniques revealed that the alloy cluster core of ∼1.2 nm diameter is composed of nearly zero valent Au and Ag atoms that exhibit distinctly different steady state and time resolved excited state luminescence profiles compared to the parent clusters. Tuning of the alloy composition was achieved by varying the molar ratio of the parent species in the reaction mixture and compositional changes were observed by mass spectrometry. In another approach, mixing of Au3+ ions with the as-synthesized AgQC@BSA also resulted in the formation of alloy clusters through galvanic exchange reactions. We believe that alloy clusters with the combined properties of the constituents in versatile protein templates would have potential applications in the future. The work presents interesting aspects of the reactivity of the protein-protected clusters.

/pdf/luminescent-bimetallic-auag-alloy-quantum-clusters-in-38sy5l8o0o.pdf

Kamalesh Chaudhari

Papers

Luminescent quantum clusters of gold in transferrin family protein, lactoferrin exhibiting FRET.

Understanding the Evolution of Luminescent Gold Quantum Clusters in Protein Templates

Protein-protected luminescent noble metal quantum clusters: an emerging trend in atomic cluster nanoscience

Biopolymer-reinforced synthetic granular nanocomposites for affordable point-of-use water purification

Luminescent, bimetallic AuAg alloy quantum clusters in protein templates.