title: The synthesis of biocompatible and SERS-active gold nanoparticles using chitosan.
abstract: In this study we present a clean, nontoxic, environmentally friendly synthesis procedure to generate a large variety of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by using chitosan, a biocompatible, biodegradable, natural polymer, as reducing and stabilizing agent. The formation of gold-chitosan nanocomposites was characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the reaction temperature plays a crucial role in controlling the size, shape and crystalline structure of GNPs. In addition, it is demonstrated that chitosan can perform as a scaffold for the assembly of GNPs, which were successfully applied as substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To test the SERS activity, a relevant biological molecule--tryptophan--was adopted as the analyte.
authors: Nanobiophotonics Laboratory, Institute for Interdisciplinary Experimental Research and Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, M Kogalniceanu 1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. potaramonica@yahoo.com
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Potara
authors: Dana
authors: D
authors: Maniu
authors: Simion
authors: S
authors: Astilean
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003124:Colorimetry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006046:Gold; D014364:Tryptophan; D048271:Chitosan