Effect of Al2O3 Nanoparticles on Bovine Serum Albumin: A Spectrofluorometric Study

Abstract

As metal oxide nanoparticles are widely used in biomedical field the interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles and the effect of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on the conformation of bovine serum albumin has been analyzed by various spectroscopic techniques. With increasing concentrations of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles in bovine serum albumin a shift in emission maximum, change in fluorescence intensity and change in lifetimes were observed compared to the emission maximum, fluorescence intensity and lifetimes of bovine serum albumin. Fluorescence emission spectra showed a blue shift with increasing concentrations of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles in bovine serum albumin which is indicative of increasing hydrophobicity. These studies showed that Al₂O₃ nanoparticles induced conformational changes in the structure of bovine serum albumin.