Large Scale Screening of Southern African Plant Extracts for the Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Microtitre-Plate Method.
The preparation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) involves a variety of chemical and physical methods. These methods use toxic and environmentally harmful chemicals. Consequently, the synthesis of AuNPs using green chemistry has been under investigation to develop eco-friendly nanoparticles. One approach to achieve this is the use of plant-derived phytochemicals that are capable of reducing gold ions to produce AuNPs. The aim of this study was to implement a facile microtitre-plate method to screen a large number of aqueous plant extracts to determine the optimum concentration (OC) for the bio-synthesis of the AuNPs. Several AuNPs of different sizes and shapes were successfully synthesized and characterized from 17 South African plants. The characterization was done using Ultra Violet-Visible Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. We also studied the effects of temperature on the synthesis of the AuNPs and showed that changes in temperatures affect the size and dispersity of the generated AuNPs. We also evaluated the stability of the synthesized AuNPs and showed that some of them are stable in biological buffer solutions.
DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7530, South Africa. 3376881@myuwc.ac.za.
Abdulrahman M
AM
Elbagory
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Private bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa. C.Cupido@sanbi.org.za.|Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa. C.Cupido@sanbi.org.za.
Christopher N
CN
Cupido
DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7530, South Africa. memeyer@uwc.ac.za.
Mervin
M
Meyer
Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7530, South Africa. ahmohammed@uwc.ac.za.
Ahmed A
AA
Hussein
D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D013019:South Africa; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006046:Gold
Cape flora; biosynthesis; gold nanoparticles; green nanotechnology; high resolution transmission electron microscopy