Bio-inspired synthesis of chiral silver nanoparticles in mucin glycoprotein—the natural choice

• DOI: 10.1039/c1cc11228g
• Publication Date: 2011-05-16T13:34:58Z
• Authors: Netta Hendler; Ludmila Fadeev; Elad D. Mentovich; Bogdan Belgorodsky; Michael Gozin; Shachar Richter
• Keywords: Silver; Biomimetics; Mucins; Animals; Metal Nanoparticles; Cattle; Stereoisomerism; Oxidation-Reduction; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

A method of synthesizing stable chiral Ag nanoparticles inside a natural mucin glycoprotein is demonstrated. The reaction is carried out without the help of an external reducing agent, by utilizing the reducing properties of the host mucin. A chiral spectrum is detected in the visible range, indicating the formation of a new type of chiral Ag nanoparticles-containing biomaterial.