User:Mary Mendoza/Notebook/CHEM 571 Experimental Biological Chemistry I

Abstract

• In reference to the investigation of Bakshi, et al, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was found to form nanoparticles with gold (Au). BSA acts as a reducing agent by converting Au (III) into Au (0). With the application of heat, the BSA unfolds and its amino acid, cysteine, reacts with the hydrogen bonds of chloroauric acid, HAuCl₄. This happens to induce the reduction of Au.

• The agenda of this laboratory is to manipulate the two main factors, temperature and unfolding of BSA, (independent variables) that govern the formation of gold nanoparticles, AuNPs.

• The first 3 weeks of the experiment, from August 29 to September 12, concerns the experimentation on pH and ionic strength by which temperature of the Au/BSA solution and concentration of chloroauric acid is tested against tris buffer at different pH levels, in particular pH 8 and 10.

Notes

• For each entry, headings are written in consecutive order of execution.
• Observations, significance of particular steps, and discussions are indicated within the procedure.
• Water used for the entirety of the requirements in the experiment was de-ionized and distilled water. Also, the water is run through a current to ensure that there is no organic matter present.

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