Dataset from "Protein‑Directed Nucleation and Stabilization of Silver 2 Nanoclusters inside BSA Hydrogels"

Dataset from the paper Protein-Directed Nucleation and Stabilization of Ultrasmall Silver Nanoparticles Within BSA Hydrogels by Carmen Salto-Giron et al. (Gels 2026, 12(3), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12030231). Data from Figure 2. TEM and HR-TEM characterization of AgNCs embedded in a BSA hydrogel (heating time 1:15 min). (a, b) TEM images of AgNCs with (a) 500 nm and (b) 200 nm scale bars. (c) Low-magnification image showing dispersed nanometric domains (yellow circles) embedded in the amorphous protein matrix. Lattice fringes with spacing of ≈ 0.235 nm supports assignment to crystalline FCC Ag nanoclusters stabilized within the BSA hydrogel network. Data from Figure 3. Rheological analysis of AgNC–BSA hydrogel composites: BSA hydrogel (AgNC-free), AgNCs 1:15 gel, and AgNCs 1:45 gel. (a) Amplitude sweep (0.01–0.2% strain, 1 Hz) illustrating the linear viscoelastic regime (LVR), showing G′ (circle) and G″ (square). (b) Frequency sweep (0.1–16 Hz, 0.1% strain) showing storage modulus (G′) (circle) and loss modulus (G″) (square). (c) Comparison of G′ corresponding to the LVR at 1 Hz for the different formulations. Data from Figure 4. Absorption (a) and emission (b) spectra of BSA hydrogel 50 mg/mL (blue), AgCOOCF3 10 mM water solution, AgNCs 1:15–BSA hydrogel, AgNCs 1:45–BSA hydrogel, and AgNPs prepared in aqueous BSA. (b) Excitation wavelength, λₑₓ = 260 nm. Data Figure S1. Volume-weighted particle size distribution of silver nanoparticles obtained from three independent DLS measurements: AgNCs 1:15–BSA hydrogel, AgNCs 1:30–BSA hydrogel, AgNCs 1:45–BSA hydrogel, AgNPs prepared with BSA in liquid phase as in Basu and Mandal. Data from Figure S2. TEM and HR TEM characterization of AgNCs embedded in a BSA hydrogel. (a, b) TEM images of AgNCs with 1 min 30 s heating time with (a) 1 µm and (b) 200 nm scale bars; (c) TEM images of AgNCs with 1 min 45 s heating time with 200 nm scale bar; (d) TEM images of AgNPs obtained with BSA in liquid phase with 100 nm scale bar. (e, f) Size and circularity distributions of AgNCs in the BSA hydrogel: (e) Violin plots of Feret across four sample conditions. (f) Mean circularity measured per each condition. Data from Figure S3. HR-TEM image of incorporated crystalline AgNCs within the BSA hydrogel network. Image for EDX spectrum.