In situ encapsulating silver nanocrystals into hydrogels. A “green” signaling platform for thiol-containing amino acids or small peptides

We found that Ag(I) could serve as a "bridging agent" for triggering sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) solution to form a hydrogel which enabled Ag nanocrystals to be in situ produced and encapsulated into the stable gel matrix by means of photoreduction; the conceptual system could act as a novel signaling platform for thiol-containing amino acids or small peptides, operating in a "self-assembly and disassembly" model.