TEMPO-Oxidized Nanocellulose Fiber-Directed Stable Aqueous Suspension of Plasmonic Flower-like Silver Nanoconstructs for Ultra-Trace Detection of Analytes

The synthesis of shape-tuned silver (Ag) nanostructures with high plasmon characteristics has become of significant importance in in vitro diagnostic applications. Herein, we report a simple aqueous synthetic route using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-oxidized nanocellulose fibers (T-NCFs) and trisodium citrate (TSC) that results in anisotropically grown flower-like Ag nanoconstructs (AgNFs). A detailed investigation of the concentration and sequence of the addition of reactants in the formation of these anisotropic Ag structures is presented. Our experimental results show that the mechanism underlying the formation of AgNFs is facilitated by the synergistic action of T-NCFs and TSC on the directional growth of Ag nuclei during the primary stage, which later develop into a flower-like structure by the ripening of larger particles consuming smaller Ag particles. As a result the final structure comprises flower-like morphology over which several smaller Ag particles (of size <10 nm) are adhered. The aqueous AgNF colloid exhibits high stability (ζ = −69.4 mV) and long shelf-life at neutral pH (>4 months) by the efficient capping action of T-NCFs. Further, an as-synthesized nanoconstructs shows excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity, which enables ultrasensitive detection of p-aminothiophenol with a concentration down to 10 aM (10^–17 M) in a reproducible way. This biosupported synthesis of stable aqueous colloids of AgNF may find potential applications as a biomedical sensing platform for the trace level detection of analyte molecules.