Preparation of stable Pd nanocubes and their use in biological labeling

Stable Pd nanocubes (PdNC) with the average size ∼15 nm were prepared by the controlled reduction of sodium tetrachloropalladate with ascorbic acid in water, in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone and potassium bromide. Morphology of the particles was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and their stability in the colloidal solution was verified by dynamic light scattering (DLS). It has been demonstrated that the Pd nanocubes can be distinguished from commercial Au nanospheres in a standard TEM microscope by means of automated image analysis. In the next step, the PdNC were successfully conjugated to immunoglobulin proteins and used for the detection of a specific protein (nucleophosmin) on ultrathin sections of HeLa cells. Our experiments showed that PdNC can be used for multiple immunolabeling in combination with commercial Au nanospheres.

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► Reproducible synthesis of stable Pd nanocubes (PdNC) with average size 15 nm.
► The PdNC distinguishable from Au nanospheres in a standard TEM.
► The PdNC nanocubes conjugated and used for biological labeling in TEM.
► Therefore, the PdNC are suitable for multiple immunolabeling in life sciences.