In vivo observation of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching induced by gold nanoparticles

To our knowledge, the present work reports the first in vivo observation of chlorophyll a fluorescence quenching induced by gold nanoparticles. Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy was used to collect in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence, using a portable optical fiber-based spectrofluorimeter. Fluorescence quenching was observed for all plants submitted to the gold nanoparticle treatment, and both excitation wavelengths, 405 nm and 532 nm, were capable of detecting interactions between gold nanoparticles and plants. Our results also suggest that gold nanoparticles were able to translocate and accumulate in the soybean plants after seed inoculation.

► We examine the interaction between gold nanoparticles and chlorophyll molecules.
► We evaluate the effects of gold nanoparticle sizes and concentrations.
► Gold nanoparticles induce quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence.
► The quenching depends on the particle size and concentration.
► Quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence has been detected in vivo.