Research results on biological applications of gold Au13 nanoclusters have been published in J. Am. Chem. Soc. By changing the linker connecting the NHC ligands, we have succeeded in obtaining nanoclusters that are extremely stable and exhibit high luminescence efficiency. This nanocluster was also confirmed to be efficiently taken up by cancer cells (KB cells), and when irradiated with light, they acted as a photodynamic therapy drug and were confirmed to have the ability to destroy KB cells. These results suggest that nanoclusters have the potential to be used as a nanomedical platform.

Congratulations to Viv and Emily!

This research was conducted in collaboration with Prof. Tsukuda (Univ. of Tokyo), Prof. Häkkinen (University of Jyvaskyla, Finland), Prof. Stamplecoskie, and Prof. Gang Zheng (Queen's Univ.).