Natural protein-templated fluorescent gold nanoclusters: Syntheses and applications

For the past decades, the synthesis of metal nanoclusters has been a great interest for research, for their unique physicochemical properties and great contributions to the catalytic, electrical and biomedical applications. Protein-templated gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) is a kind of fluorescent nanomaterials with good solubility, excellent stability, biocompatibility, decent quantum yields and active groups (–COOH, –NH₂) for facilitating modifications. Natural proteins are easily available, commercially affordable, diverse and multitudinous in animals, plants and foods, which provide a template pool for the exploration of AuNCs. This is one of the few reviews of specifically focusing on the natural protein-templated fluorescent AuNCs. The syntheses, properties and applications of different AuNCs were enumerated. Prospects were given on utilizing structure-modified proteins, bioactive enzymes, antibodies which should endow the AuNCs more favourable fluorescence performances and functional characteristics. The applications of AuNCs in analytical, biomedical and food sciences would be further heightened.