Fluorescence enhancement for the complex PAMAM–BSA in the presence of photonic crystal heterostructures

The paper presents the optical characterization of the multilayer film composed of styrene (ST)–poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA 1100)–gold nanoparticles (Au)–poly(amidoamine) PAMAM (G4)–bovine serum albumin (BSA). The addition of the last layer composed of BSA resulted in an unusual optical behaviour, i.e. increase of the fluorescence emission intensity, respectively the intensity of the UV–vis reflection, compared with the ST–PEGMA 1100–Au–G4 film. The explanation could be attributed to the presence of photonic crystal heterostructures. The multilayer film has been characterized by optical microscopy, AFM, UV–vis, and fluorescence.

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► The research presents the characterization of a new multilayer film involving bovine serum albumin (BSA).
► The film is composed of styrene(ST)–poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA 1100)–gold nanoparticles (Au)–PAMAM (G4)–(BSA).
► Fluorescence of tryptophan residues has been amplified by the presence of the ordered structure.