Visual chiral recognition of tryptophan enantiomers using unmodified gold nanoparticles as colorimetric probes

• A low-cost, facile, sensitive method is proposed for visual chiral recognition of enantimers.
• The unmodified AuNPs are firstly used as chiral selector for d- and l-Tryptophan.
• This work provides a new experimental evidence for intrinsic chirality of AuNPs.

A simple protocol to distinguish enantiomers is extremely intriguing and useful. In this study, we propose a low-cost, facile, sensitive method for visual chiral recognition of enantimers. It is based on the inherent chirality of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and the unmodified AuNPs are used as chiral selector for d- and l-Tryptophan (Trp). In the presence of d-Trp, an appreciable red-to-blue color change of AuNPs solution can be observed, whereas no color change is found in the presence of l-Trp. The method can be used to detect d-Trp in the range of 0.2–10 μM, and the limit of detection is 0.1 μM. The chiral assay described in this work is easily readout with the naked eye or using a UV-vis spectrometer. Furthermore, the AuNPs can selectively adsorb d-Trp, and simple centrifugation can allow the precipitation of d-Trp with AuNPs and leave a net excess of the other enantiomer in solution, thus resulting in enantioseparation. In this method, AuNPs do not need any labeling or modifying with chiral molecules. The method is more attractive because of its high sensitivity, low cost, ready availability and simple manipulation.

Based on the inherent chirality of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), a low-cost, facile and sensitive method for visual chiral recognition of tryptophan was suggested.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide