Department of Physics and Materials Science
Seminar
Oxidation in Silver Nanoparticles:
Some Chemical and Biological Aspects
Prof Chi-Ming HO
Department of Chemistry and
Open Laboratory of Chemical Biology of
the Institute of Molecular Technology for
Drug Discovery and Synthesis,
The University of Hong Kong,
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
Email: rickyho@hkucc.hku.hk
Date: 27 May 2011 (Friday)
Time: 3:30 pm (tea reception: 3:15 pm)
Venue: B5-207
Academic Building
City University of Hong Kong
Enquiry: 3442-7787
Oxidation in Silver Nanoparticles:
Some Chemical and Biological Aspects
Prof Chi-Ming HO
Department of Chemistry and
Open Laboratory of Chemical Biology of
the Institute of Molecular Technology for
Drug Discovery and Synthesis,
The University of Hong Kong,
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
Email: rickyho@hkucc.hku.hk
ABSTRACT
Oxidation of metal complexes is a crucial reaction in many biological systems and
chemical processes.[1] Likewise, oxidation of metal nanoparticles is important to the
advancement of nanotechnology because oxidative dissolution of metal nanoparticles to
metal ions is a powerful tool for the synthesis of well-defined nanostructured materials, and
is also related to their biological activity.[2] However, little is known about parameters that
govern the oxidative dissolution rate of nanostructured materials and its mechanism.
We are particularly interested in studying the oxidation chemistry of silver nanoparticles
(AgNPs) and its relationship to biological activities. It is because AgNPs are widely
incorporated into biomedical and everyday applications owing to their potent antibacterial
and antiviral activities. In addition, AgNPs are highly coloured rendering the ease of
spectrometric measurement. In this presentation, we will first present some biological
activities of AgNPs studied at HKU.[3] We will also disclose our recent progress on the
oxidative dissolution of AgNPs by biologically relevant oxidants in aqueous media.[4]
References
[1] R. A Sheldon, J. K. Kochi, Metal-Catalyzed Oxidations of Organic Compounds,
Academic Press, New York, 1981.
[2] Xia Y. Y. Xiong, B. Lim, S. E. Skrabalak, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 60; Angew.
Chem. 2009, 121, 62. b) J. Park, J. Joo. S. G. Kwon, Y. Jang, T. Hyeon, Angew. Chem. Int.
Ed. 2007, 46, 4630.
[3] (a) C.-N. Lok, C.-M. Ho, R. Chen, Q.-Y. He, W.-Y. Yu, H. Sun, P. K.-H. Tam, J.-F. Chiu,
C.-M. Che, J. Proteome Res. 2006, 5, 916; (b) C.-N. Lok, C.-M. Ho, R. Chen, Q.-Y. He,
W.-Y. Yu, H. Sun, P. K.-H. Tam, J.-F. Chiu, C.-M. Che, J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2007, 12,
527.
[4] C.-M. Ho, S. K.-W. Yau, C.-N. Lok, M.-H. So, C.-M. Che, Chem. Asian J. 2010, 5, 285.