Conformational Transitions in Silver Nanoparticals: DNA and Photoirradiation

Photoirradiation of silver nanoparticles in water solution of NaNO3 (0.01M) and in dissolved DNA was investigated by spectrophotometric and thermodynamic kinetic approaches. It is shown that only the irradiated complexes AgNPs-DNA have distinctly expressed isosbestic point. The test with the free AgNPs demonstrates that as a result of photo-irradiation desorption of silver atoms and their oxidation takes place. We have also observed that at photo-irradiation of the complexes by AgNPs-DNA desorption of silver atoms from the surface of AgNPs takes place. Kinetic study of photo-desorption of silver atoms has allowed to estimate desorption rate constant and the heat of adsorption for free AgNPs and AgNPs bound with DNA. On DNA example toxicity of AgNPs at their application to photo-chemo and photo-thermo therapy of cancer is discussed.