title: Production of platinum nanoparticles and nanoaggregates using Neurospora crassa.
abstract: Fungal biomass and fungal extract of the nonpathogenic fungus Neurospora crassa were successfully used as reducing agents for the biosynthesis of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). The experiment was carried out by exposing the fungal biomass or the fungal extract to a 0.001 M precursor solution of hexachloroplatinic(IV) acid (H2PtCl6). A change of color of the biomass from pale yellow to dark brown was the first indication of possible formation of PtNPs by the fungus. Subsequent analyses confirmed the intracellular biosynthesis of single PtNPs (4-35 nm in diameter) and spherical nanoaggregates (20-110 nm in diameter). Using the fungal extract, similar results were obtained, producing rounded nanoaggregates of Pt single crystals in the range of 17-76 nm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada Baja California, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ernestina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro-Longoria
authors.forename: Sergio D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Moreno-Velázquez
authors.forename: Alfredo R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vilchis-Nestor
authors.forename: Ever
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arenas-Berumen
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avalos-Borja
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D003116:Color; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017671:Platinum Compounds