Improving biosynthesis of AuPd core-shell nanoparticles through Escherichia coli with the assistance of phytochelatin for catalytic enhanced chemiluminescence and benzyl alcohol oxidation.

In this work, AuPd core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) biosynthesized through Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase-modified Escherichia coli (Au-Pd/AtPCS1-E. coli) with catalytic enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) and benzyl alcohol oxidation (BAO) was investigated. Such biosynthesis of AuPd core-shell NPs was obviously enhanced due to insertion of the gene sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase (AtPCS1) to a plasmid vector (pET-28b) of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The obtained Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase-modified Escherichia coli (AtPCS1-E. coli) could generate phytochelatins (PCs, (γ-Glu-Cys)_n-Gly, n > 1) for efficient capture and enrichment of Au³⁺. The component and morphology of AuPd core-shell NPs were checked through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Catalytic CL (in H₂O₂-luminol system) and BAO (in H₂O₂-benzyl alcohol system) effect with different experimental conditions were examined, respectively. These results revealed that multifunctional PCs could effectively facilitate biosynthetic process of AuPd core-shell NPs with better distribution, higher yield and lower cost while stronger CL intensity and higher conversion could be obtained for further quantitative analysis and application.