Photosynthesis of hybrid silver-based nanoparticles mediated lectins and evaluation of their hemagglutinating properties.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins belonging to the Leguminosae family. In this family stand out proteins extracted from species belonging to Diocleinae subtribe, which includes, for example, the seed lectin from Dioclea violacea (DVL) and the jack bean lectin Concanavalin A (ConA). Here, we report the photosynthesis of silver/silver chloride nanoparticles (NPs) assisted by ConA and DVL. The syntheses were simple processes using a green-chemistry approach. Under electron microscopy, NPs heterogeneous in size, nearly spherical and covered by a thin lectin corona, were observed. Both NPs assisted by lectins were capable to cause strong rabbit erythrocytes agglutination with the same titers of hemagglutinating activities. These results indicate that both lectins maintained their biological activities even after association with the NPs and therefore are able to interact with biological membrane carbohydrates. However, for rabbit erythrocytes treated with proteolytic enzymes were observed different titers of hemagglutinating activities, suggesting differences in the spatial arrangement of the lectins on the surface of the NPs. This study provides evidences that these hybrid lectin-coated silver/silver chloride NPs can be used for selective recognition and interaction with membrane carbohydrates and others biotechnological applications.