The power of fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy in the identification and characterization of complex mixtures of fluorescent silver clusters

摘要: Silver and gold clusters have received a lot of recent attention for their use in biomedical imaging. However, crude solutions are often complex mixtures, leading to discrepancies identification characterization; important factors determining utility biological applications. In the present study, silver were separated analysis using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, which has previously been implemented efficient separation clusters. Using fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy, we demonstrated that certain family glutathione-protected clusters, thought be one optically distinct species, is better described as mixture at least three cluster each possessing unique optical properties. Based on these findings, EEM spectroscopy can powerful technique purity especially when other techniques, including mass spectrometry, fail provide adequate characterization given material.