Synthesis, Characterization and Bio-Labeling Studies of Trypsin Stabilized Silver Quantum Clusters

Quantum clusters are very small sized nano materials with significant photo luminescence. Noble metal quantum clusters can be synthesized using protein as an etching substance. Here silver quantum clusters (Ag-QCs) are synthesized by etching with intestinal protease enzyme Trypsin. It has photoluminescence at bluish green region with a significant quantum yield. The synthesized clusters were characterized using tools like UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Zeta Potential, DLS, FTIR and TEM. Cyclic RGD peptides are conjugated to the quantum clusters by EDAC coupling method. These conjugated clusters were used for rabbit adipose derived stem cells imaging and they were found out to be suitable for bio-labeling application. MTT assay and AFM studies were performed to check the bio compatibility of the silver quantum clusters. They were found to be non cytotoxic.