Issue 17, 2013

Logical regulation of the enzyme-like activity of gold nanoparticles by using heavy metal ions

Abstract

In this study we employed self-deposition and competitive or synergistic interactions between metal ions and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to develop OR, AND, INHIBIT, and XOR logic gates through regulation of the enzyme-like activity of Au NPs. In the presence of various metal ions (Ag+, Bi3+, Pb2+, Pt4+, and Hg2+), we found that Au NPs (13 nm) exhibited peroxidase-, oxidase-, or catalase-like activity. After Ag+, Bi3+, or Pb2+ ions had been deposited on the Au NPs, the particles displayed strong peroxidase-like activity; on the other hand, they exhibited strong oxidase- and catalase-like activities after reactions with Ag+/Hg2+ and Hg2+/Bi3+ ions, respectively. The catalytic activities of these Au NPs arose mainly from the various oxidation states of the surface metal atoms/ions. Taking advantage of this behavior, we constructed multiplex logic operations—OR, AND, INHIBIT, and XOR logic gates—through regulation of the enzyme-like activity after the introduction of metal ions into the Au NP solution. When we deposited Hg2+ and/or Bi3+ ions onto the Au NPs, the catalase-like activities of the Au NPs were strongly enhanced (>100-fold). Therefore, we could construct an OR logic gate by using Hg2+/Bi3+ as inputs and the catalase-like activity of the Au NPs as the output. Likewise, we constructed an AND logic gate by using Pt4+ and Hg2+ as inputs and the oxidase-like activity of the Au NPs as the output; the co-deposition of Pt and Hg atoms/ions on the Au NPs was responsible for this oxidase-like activity. Competition between Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions for the Au NPs allowed us to develop an INHIBIT logic gate—using Pb2+ and Hg2+ as inputs and the peroxidase-like activity of the Au NPs as the output. Finally, regulation of the peroxidase-like activity of the Au NPs through the two inputs Ag+ and Bi3+ enabled us to construct an XOR logic gate.

Graphical abstract: Logical regulation of the enzyme-like activity of gold nanoparticles by using heavy metal ions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 Apr 2013
Accepted
22 Jun 2013
First published
26 Jun 2013

Nanoscale, 2013,5, 8227-8234

Logical regulation of the enzyme-like activity of gold nanoparticles by using heavy metal ions

C. Lien, Y. Chen, H. Chang and C. Huang, Nanoscale, 2013, 5, 8227 DOI: 10.1039/C3NR01836A

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