Sargassum myriocystum mediated biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles

Functionalized metal nanoparticles are unique in nature and are being developed for its specificity in drug targeting. In the present study, aqueous extract of Sargassum myriocystum is used for the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by the reduction of chloroauric acid. The formation of nanoparticles reaction was complete within 15 min at 76 degrees C. The size, shape and elemental analysis of AuNPs were carried out using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, FT-IR, TEM, SEM-EDAX, and XRD analysis. The newly formed AuNPs are stable, well-defined, polydispersed (triangular and spherical) and crystalline with an average size of 15 nm. The biomolecule involved in stabilizing AuNPs was identified using GC-MS. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.