title: Gold nanoparticle embedded, self-sustained chitosan films as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
abstract: In this work, self-sustained, biocompatible, biodegradable films containing gold nanostructures have been fabricated for potential application in nanobioscience and ultrasensitive chemical and biochemical analysis. We report a novel synthesis of gold nanoparticles mediated by the biopolymer chitosan. Self-supporting thin films are formed from the resultant gold-chitosan nanocomposite solutions and characterized by UV-visible surface plasmon absorption, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, infrared absorption, and Raman scattering measurements. Results demonstrate control over the size and distribution of the nanoparticles produced, which is promising for several applications, including the development of biosensors. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate that gold-chitosan films can be employed in trace analysis using surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
authors.affiliation: Materials & Surface Science Group, School of Physical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada, N9B 3P4.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Paul J G
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: Nicholas P W
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Pieczonka
authors.forename: Osvaldo N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ricardo F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Aroca
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D049329:Nanostructures; D036103:Nanotechnology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006046:Gold; D048271:Chitosan