Green synthesis of a plant-derived protein protected copper quantum cluster for intrauterine device application

The Analyst
Meegle S MathewKuruvilla Joseph

Abstract

Fluorescent copper quantum clusters (CuQCs) have received great interest in recent times due to their attractive features, such as water solubility, low cost, wide availability of Cu and good biocompatibility. Recently, considerable efforts have been devoted to the preparation and applications of CuQCs. Herein, we report a simple one-pot green method for the preparation of fluorescent CuQCs using a plant-derived protein, gluten, as a stabilizing agent. Gluten, a naturally abundant, low-cost and sustainable plant-protein derived from wheat, was employed both as a reducing and stabilizing agent to produce blue emitting CuQCs. The CuQCs were characterized by UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, FT-IR, TEM, and XPS. We further incorporated CuQCs into a polymer to study the release rate of Cu2+ ions from a CuQC-polymer composite, since copper ions are well known for their fungicidal properties and contraceptive action in copper-T (CuT). The CuQCs were incorporated into a model polymer, polyurethane (PU), by melt compounding, and the mixtures were extruded in the form of a wire. It was observed that the CuQCs were uniformly dispersed within the polymer matrix. An in vitro experiment was carried out to quantify the potential release of Cu...Continue Reading

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Feb 28, 2016·Biosensors & Bioelectronics·Meegle S MathewKuruvilla Joseph
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Methods Mentioned

BETA
contraception
transmission electron microscopy
energy dispersive spectroscopy
surface plasmon resonance
electron diffraction

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