Abstract
Comprehension of the shape-dependent properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) could benefit the advancements in cellular uptake efficiency. Spherical AuNPs have generally been used for drug delivery, and recent research has indicated that the cellular uptake of triangular AuNPs was higher than that of spherical ones. Previous reports have also revealed that chemically synthesized AuNPs were cytotoxic. Therefore, we have developed a facile, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing triangular and hexagonal anionic AuNPs. The zeta potential of the synthesized AuNPs was negative, which indicated that their surface could be easily functionalized with positively charged molecules to upload drugs or biomolecules. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images illustrated that the largest particle size of the synthesized quasi-hexagonal AuNPs was 61 nm. The TEM images also illustrated that two types of equilateral-triangular AuNPs were synthesized: One featured sharp and the other rounded corners. The sides of the smallest and largest triangular AuNPs were 23 and 178 nm, respectively. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectra of the green-synthesized AuNPs indicated that they consisted entirely of elemental Au. The cytotoxicity of the green-synthesized AuNPs was evaluated using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Using cell viability data, we determined that the green-synthesized AuNPs did not exhibit any cytotoxic effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Highlights
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used in the optoelectronics field for electronic and magnetic devices; further, these have been employed as catalysts, antibacterials, colorimetric sensors, and in drug delivery systems [1,2,3,4,5]
After 30 min of incubation, the color of the solution changed from yellow to dark red owing to the Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect; this indicated the formation of the AuNPs [3]
We have developed an environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of triangular and hexagonal AuNPs
Summary
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used in the optoelectronics field for electronic and magnetic devices; further, these have been employed as catalysts, antibacterials, colorimetric sensors, and in drug delivery systems [1,2,3,4,5]. Researchers have focused on facile, cost-effective, nontoxic, environmentally friendly, green chemistry methods for synthesizing NPs. Nowadays, researchers have been adopting biological routes for the synthesis of nanomaterials using fungal [1,7,8] and bacterial [9] biomasses as well as plant extracts [10,11,12]. We have developed a facile, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of triangular and hexagonal AuNPs. Erigeron annuus (E. annuus) leaf extract was used as a reducing and capping agent for the green synthesis of AuNPs. E. annuus leaf extract is a good source of γ-pyranone derivatives, flavonoids, and phenolic acids [20], and these biomolecules play significant roles in the green synthesis of NPs [21,22]. The green-synthesized triangular and hexagonal AuNPs were used to evaluate their cell viability against 3T3-L1 adipocytes
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