Synthesis, characterization and biosensing-applications of gold nanoparticles ::experiments for photonics and other nonchemistry curricula in the higher education of engineers

With the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, the application of nanoparticles is getting broader and interdisciplinary. For preparing engineering students to work in the increasingly interdisciplinary sectors of photonics, materials engineering, nanotechnologies, or health engineering, laboratory curricula or term project training in applied nanoscience is increasingly required. This article presents laboratory experiments for the higher education of photonics and other non-chemistry graduate students (postgraduates) or even undergraduates to be basically skilled with the synthesis, characterization and bio-applications of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The presented laboratory training experiments are based on low investment costs of instrumentation. The entire chain is illustrated from conventional reaction principles for Au NP synthesis, over optical characterization to practical operation in optical biosensors developments. Using myoglobin as a model protein, UV/vis absorbance experiments illustrate how to evaluate the amount of proteins that are adsorbed to the NPs. Potentially the synthesized NPs can be used to extract low-abundant proteins for bio-sensing application, or to remove excess proteins in samples with complicated background like sera. The designed experiments are suitable for laboratory project periods of two days, and extendable to weeks, or also to term projects under minor alteration