Figure 2.
The scheme for modification of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by β-casein and by 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MCH) as well as the cleavage of β-casein by trypsin. Before enzymatic digestion, functionalized AuNPs were stable due to steric stabilization. After the AuNPs were subjected to protease cleavage, the casein was removed from the surface of AuNPs/MCH/β-casein. This caused the destabilization of the NPs, followed by their aggregation.