Highly fluorescent papain stabilized gold nanoclusters (NCs) have been synthesized through a simple wet chemical route. Papain was used for the first time as an effective capping and reducing agent for these clusters. The optimal conditions for the synthesis of the gold nanoclusters, including the concentrations of papain and NaOH, reaction time and temperature, were investigated. The as-prepared Au clusters show intense red emission at similar to 660 nm (QY similar to 4.3%) and are uniform in size. The clusters are quite stable and the intense red emission remained unchanged at a buffer pH range of 6-12. The fluorescent Au NCs were then used as a label-free probe for the sensitive detection of Cu2+. A limit of detection of 3 nM was obtained. The sensing strategy is also highly selective against the various potential interference ions. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.