Potential Use of Albumin Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters

Much attention has been focused on the properties of metal nanoclusters due to their unique features. For instance, gold nanoclusters capped with bovine serum albumin have shown fluorescent properties and potential applications as a fluorescent and bioimaging probe as well as radiosensitizer in radiation therapy and photosensitizers for photothermal and photodynamic therapy, thus serving as an imaging and therapy agent for cancer treatment. Together with other metals used in the synthesis, the fluorescence properties of these clusters may change, or take on additional unique properties as a contrast agent probe for the magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. The article briefly summarizes various top-down and bottom-up synthesis strategies for fluorescent BSA-AuNCs. Furthermore, it highlights their biological applications, with particular emphasis on bioimaging, biosensing, and possible therapeutic uses. Finally, the present problems and potential prospects of fluorescent BSA-AuNCs in synthesis and biomedical research are also debated.