Comparative study of different chitosan solutions to assist the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles under irradiation

Publication date: Available online 24 April 2019Source: Radiation Physics and ChemistryAuthor(s): Thananchai Piroonpan, Pichayada Katemake, Wanvimol PasanphanAbstractDifferent chitosan aqueous solutions, i.e., conventional chitosan in acetic acid (CTS-HOAc) and non-derivatized water-soluble chitosan (WSCTS) were used as polymer templates for a green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) under gamma irradiation. Because of molecular template effect, the CTS-HOAc and WSCTS exhibited different performance for AuNPs synthesis under various irradiation doses and HAuCl4 precursor concentrations. The AuNPs formation in WSCTS and CTS-HOAc were investigated through physical appearance, numerical color, surface plasmon resonance, particle morphologies and sizes, AuNPs-polymer interaction and crystal structure. Within the irradiation doses range of 0–50 kGy, the particle sizes of the spherical AuNPs formulated in the WSCTS and CTS-HOAc solutions were in the range of 5–25 nm and 5–80 nm, respectively. The particle size and amount of AuNPs can be controlled by balancing synthetic parameters. Compared with AuNPs in CTS-HOAc, the AuNPs in WSCTS exhibit lower toxicity and promote proliferation of human skin fibroblast cells. The different CTS solution systems played an important role for AuNPs formation under irradiation. WSCTS opens a green pathway for synthesis of AuNPs for further extended to appropriate biomedical and cosmeceutical applications.
Source: Radiation Physics and Chemistry - Category: Physics Source Type: research