Gold Nanoparticles; Synthesis, Characterization and Comparative Studies of Their Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles of various morphologies have been synthesized using different synthetic approaches. Sonochemical synthesis results in the formation of 25 nm sized gold nano discs and 30 nm sized polyhedral structures with surface area of 179.5 m2/g and 150.5 m2/g respectively[1]. The UV-Visible spectrum shows the SPR peaks due to in plane and out of plane excitation modes. Microemulsion synthesis using Tergitol NP-9 surfactant resulted in the production of hexagonal gold nanoparticles (avg. size: 20 nm) at 0.05 M HAuCl4 (aq) and spherical morphologies with an average size of 25 nm and 15 nm at molar concentrations of 0.04 M and 0.03 M HAuCl4 (aq) respectively[2]. Gold nanoparticles show the surface plasmon resonance peaks at 540 nm and 580 nm along with peaks corresponding to higher order plasmon resonance modes at shorter wavelengths. The surface area was found to increase with decrease in particle size. An ecofriendly synthetic route was also employed to synthesize gold nanoparticles using candida albicans fungal cell free extract[3]. Gold nanocrystals of 5 nm have been obtained with specific surface area of 18.9 m2/g. The encapsulation of gold nanoparticle by biomolecules of the cell free extract was confirmed by FTIR and TGA studies. Gold nanoparticle show surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 540 nm. Gold nanoparticles have been tested for antimicrobial activity against fungal and bacterial species. Gold nano discs displayed higher antimicrobial action against fungus candida albicans as compared to gold polyhedral structures by inhibiting H+-ATPase activity. Biosynthesized gold nanoparticles showed good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. However, Escherichia coli, a gram-negative bacterium was found to be more susceptible to gold nanoparticles as compared to Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive bacterium. The microemulsion synthesized gold nanoparticles were tested against Candida albicans both alone and in combination with fluconazole. The gold nanoparticles in combination with fluconazole showed maximum inhibition and the antifungal activity increased with decrease in particle size.