Make conjugation simple: a facile approach to integrated nanostructures

We report a facile approach to the conjugation of protein-encapsulated gold fluorescent nanoclusters to the iron oxide nanoparticles through catechol reaction. This method eliminates the use of chemical linkers and can be readily extended to the conjugation of biological molecules and other nanomaterials onto nanoparticle surfaces. The key to the success was producing water-soluble iron oxide nanoparticles with active catechol groups. Further, advanced electron microscopy analysis of the integrated gold nanoclusters and iron oxide nanoparticles provided direct evidence of the presence of a single fluorescent nanocluster per protein template. Interestingly, the integrated nanoparticles exhibited enhanced fluorescent emission in biological media. These studies will provide significantly practical value in chemical conjugation, the development of multifunctional nanostructures, and exploration of multifunctional nanoparticles for biological applications.