Anionic calixarene-capped silver nanoparticles show species-dependent binding to serum albumins.

The anionic calixarenes para-sulphonatocalix[4]arene and 1,3-di-O-phosphonatocalix[ 4]arene, have been used to cap silver nanoparticles. The binding of these functional particles with regard to various serum albumins (bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, porcine serum albumin and sheep serum albumin) has been studied by variable temperature fluorescence spectroscopy. The quenching of the fluorescence of the proteins was shown to vary as a function of the anionic calixarene capping molecule and also as a function of the origin of the serum albumin. It is thus possible to discriminate between the different species.