EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant - DTA, University of Strathclyde | Russell, Ben Allan

From Fluorescence and computational studies of synthesised Human Serum Albumin Gold Nanoclusters the location of nanocluster nucleation and growth in the protein was found to be centred in the second domain, located near one of the major drug binding sites of the protein.

From hydrodynamic and adsorption technique studies it was found that both Lysozyme and Human Serum Albumin protein encapsulated Gold Nanoclusters form larger aggregates than the proteins natural form, as well as altering a number of important characteristics such as the isoelectric point and the viscosity.

From further fluorescence studies it was found that the gold nanocluster in Human Serum Albumin blocks the ability of the protein to bind to drug molecules at Sudlow site I of the protein. This was found during a series of experiments using the fluorescent drug Warfarin.