A global approach of the mechanism involved in the biosynthesis of gold colloids using micro-algae

The use of micro-algae for the production of noble metal nanoparticles has drawn much attention recently. This paper aims to address some questions raised by our earlier publications and some recent reports from other groups, among which the biological pathways involved in the bioreduction of noble metal cations into nanoparticles and the design of stable colloids. TEM micrographs, taken at the early stage of contact between cells and salt solutions, show undoubtedly that the biomineralization process occurs within the thylakoidal membranes, which are the organelles responsible for photosynthesis. We strongly believe that the available enzymes and their cofactors (enzymatic machinery) are the key molecules that allow such reduction, promoting therefore the formation of nanoparticles. In addition, by comparing the characteristics of gold colloids made by polysaccharides-producing and non-producing micro-algae strains, we demonstrate that the stability of those colloids is ensured predominantly by those biopolymers. These macrobiomolecules control partly the size and the shape of NPs.