Colourimetric and spectroscopic discrimination between nucleotides and nucleosides using para-sulfonato-calix[4]arene capped silver nanoparticles.

The complexation of nucleosides and nucleotides by hybrid nanoparticles capped by para-sulfonato-calix[4]arene shows clear discrimination between purine and pyrimidine based molecules. For the pyrimidine nucleotides there is appearance of a new absorption band around 550 nm, and a colour change from yellow to orange red and pink.