A gold(i)–pyrazolato complex as a switch-on luminescent probe for cysteine: in situ formation of fluorescent nanoparticles and rose-like microspheres

Abstract

A gold(I)–pyrazolato complex has been designed as a luminescent probe for cysteine (Cys). Spectroscopy and microscopy experiments revealed that the complex would disintegrate in the presence of Cys to form gold–Cys fluorescent nanoparticles, and was found to enhance Cys to form rose-like microspheres in solution.

With similar research interest in gold medicines, Prof. Raymond Sun from Shantou University (STU, CHINA), Prof. Heinz Gornitzka and Dr. Catherine Hemmert from Université de Toulouse (UPS, FRANCE) have long been a joint force for the design of various anti-cancer gold(I)–carbene complexes. Prof. Dan Li from STU later joined the collaboration with his expertise in the design of novel bio-materials including the use and selection of appropriate metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as drug carriers in biological systems. In 2015, Prof. Sun was invited as a Visiting Professor in UPS for academic exchange. Shortly after, Ms. Camille Saint-Germain (Master's student of UPS) joined the academic program in UPS lead by Prof. Gornitzka, who had worked as an exchange student in China for 6 months to develop novel gold complexes under the supervision of Prof. Li and Prof. Sun.