Synthesis and characterization of novel blue-emitting nicotinamide-gold nanoclusters with “chain-breaker” antioxidant property

In this paper, we firstly demonstrate a simple and reproducible synthesis protocol to produce nicotinamide-stabilized gold nanoclusters (NAM-Au NCs) under mild conditions. The dominant role of the pH ligand metal ion molar ratio on formation these few atomic fluorescent NCs were proven. prepared show intensive blue-emission at 380 nm with two main lifetime components (4.7 6.7 ns), which refers an ultra-small Au structure nearly uniform composition. metallic oxidation state content was identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while infrared studies strongly confirm binding aromatic-N amide-N core. oxygen radical capacity (ORAC) tests carried out in case stabilizing nicotinamide NAM-Au using Trolox molecule as reference between 1 100 µM concentration range. Based fluorometric measurements, demonstrated that our blue-emitting also possess antioxidant activity 0.48 ± 0.03 equivalent value. We clearly proved sub-nanometer-sized novel molecular-like optical features against pure nicotinamide, but effect preserved. These coupled properties make potential agents for biocatalytic reactions.