Investigating the Energy Transfer from Dye Molecules to DNA Stabilized Au Nanoparticles

Double-stranded DNA stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are synthesized by chemical reduction method and characterized with different spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Visible absorption, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), & circular-dichroism (CD) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These NPs show absorption maximum at 520 nm and size of most of the particles are of the order of 3.5 ± 1.0 nm. These Au NPs show crystalline nature as confirmed from electron diffraction pattern. The effect of formation of Au NPs on the macromolecule has been studied using infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Formation of NPs causes conformational changes in the DNA molecules. These Au NPs are further used as resonant energy acceptor of fluorescence emission from dye molecules (Rhodamine 6G). The fluorescence intensity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) is quenched in presence of Au NPs. The effect of DNA molecules on the fluorescence quenching and the rate of energy transfer from R6G molecules to Au NPs have been explored.