Correlation between composition and activity of gold nanoparticle conjugates with streptococcal protein G

Abstract

The composition of the conjugates of gold nanoparticles with streptococcal protein G was studied using fluorescence spectroscopy. The method for determining the composition is based on measuring the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan as part of the protein. The equilibrium constants of protein binding by the gold surface were determined using the Sketchard method. An increase in the dissociation constant of the protein–nanoparticle complex for increasing the amount of bound protein was demonstrated, and a relationship was established between the stability of the conjugates, their antigen-binding activity, and the dissociation constant. The effectiveness of the conjugates of different compositions in immunochromatographic assay of specific antibodies against the lipopolysaccharide antigen of Brucella abortus was compared. The binding ability of the conjugates increased along with the amount of protein G to ~200 molecules per nanoparticle. A further increase in the amount of adsorbed protein led to a deterioration in the functional activity of the conjugates.