A new BODIPY/nanoparticle/Ni affinity system for binding of cytochrome c

•BODIPY was synthesized, and then attached to magnetic nanoparticles.•Ni(II) ions were chelated on prepared material.•The binding of cytochrome c to obtained material was studied. In this study, 3,5-{Bis[4,4-difluoro, 8-(2,6-diethyl, 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene)]}benzoylchloride (BODIPY) was synthesized for the improving of a new immobilized metal affinity supporting material. Firstly, the synthesized BODIPY was immobilized on iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) and then, Ni(II) ions were chelated with the active terminals of BODIPY on nanoparticles surfaces to prepare an immobilized metal affinity (IMA) adsorbent for protein adsorption. The amount of BODIPY coated on SPIONs was about 29.7μM at 10mg nanoparticles. 738μmol of Ni(II) ions were loaded to 10mg of the SPIONs/BODIPY. The binding amount of cytochrome c was found to be 170μg to the SPIONs/BODIPY/Ni at pH 7.4. The binding amount of the molecules on SPIONs was analyzed by using UV–vis, fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The characterization of the prepared surfaces was performed by FT-IR, SEM and TEM.