Abstract
We report here the UV radiation sensitivity of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) bound silver nanoparticles (62 nm diameter) to various power density between 468 mJ/cm2 to 1872 mJ/cm2 under physiological conditions. The functional properties associated with BSA such as esterase activity, free thiols and copper ion binding have been studied. Decrease in free thiols, with increase in copper ion binding and P- nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA) turnover were observed in BSA bound silver nanoparticles (SNP) in the presence of UV radiation. Intrinsic fluorescence intensity of BSA bound SNP was decreased with UV radiation. Circular Dichroism results indicated a decrease in alpha helical content of BSA bound SNP. The overall results suggest modifications in structure–function properties of BSA bound to SNP in the presence of UV radiation. The possible mechanisms of interaction between BSA and SNP have been explained in presence of UV radiation. Keywords: Bovine serum albumin, Silver nanoparticles, UV radiation, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Circular dichroism, Esterase activity