Interaction of Enzyme Synthesized Copper Nanocluster with Surfactants

Cellulase reduces copper ions yielding blue-emitting copper nanocluster in aqueous media at room temperature. The redox potential of tyrosine residues play an instrumental role to reduce the metal ions whereas enzyme structure protects the nanocluster. The fluorescence quenching of copper nanocluster is found to be dependent on nature of surfactants. A decrease in fluorescence is rationalized by the degree of surfactant-induced protein denaturation. In CTAB, the electrostatic interaction may alter the ground-state properties of nanocluster.