Analytical determination of the reducing and stabilization agents present in different Zostera noltii extracts used for the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology Vol. 179; pp. 32 - 38
• Main Authors: Zarzuela, Rafael, Luna, Manuel Jesús, Gil, María Luisa Almoraima, Ortega, María Jesús, Palacios-Santander, José María, Naranjo-Rodríguez, Ignacio, Delgado, Juan José, Cubillana-Aguilera, Laura María
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Elsevier B.V 01.02.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Biosynthesis; Butanol; Chromatography; Column chromatography; Electron diffraction; Gold; Gold nanoparticles; High performance liquid chromatography; HPLC; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectroscopy; Nanoparticles; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Plant extracts; Spectroscopy; Stabilization; Sulfates; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray spectroscopy; Zostera noltei; Zostera noltii; NMR; Biosynthesis; Zostera noltii; Gold nanoparticles; HPLC
• ISSN: 1011-1344; 1873-2682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.12.025

The objective of this work was to ascertain the nature of the components responsible for the reducing and stabilizing properties of Zostera noltii extracts that lead to gold nanoparticle formation using chemical techniques of analysis. In order to achieve this aim, we try the synthesis of AuNPs with three different extracts from plants collected in the Bay of Cádiz (Spain). The n-butanol extract produced the best results. Taking this into account, four fractions were isolated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography from this extract and we studied their activity. The chemical study of these fractions led to the isolation of several flavone sulfates and these were identified as the species' responsible for the formation and stabilization of the AuNPs. Flavone sulfates were purified by high performance liquid chromatography and the structures were established by means of spectroscopic methods nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. AuNPs have an average lifetime of about 16weeks. Additionally, the morphology and crystalline phase of the gold nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The composition of the nanoparticles was evaluated by electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. An 88% of the gold nanoparticles has a diameter in the range 20–35nm, with an average size of 26±2nm. Synthesis process of AuNp from Z. noltii fractions extract. [Display omitted] •We determine the components of the Z. noltii extracts, that lead to gold nanoparticle formation.•Components were purified by HPLC and structures were established by (NMR, MS).•The AuNPs stability has been studied by UV–vis spectroscopy.•The morphology and crystalline phase of AuNPs have been characterized by TEM.•We propose a biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using Zostera noltii extract.