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Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using diatoms—silica-gold and EPS-gold bionanocomposite formation

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Abstract

Novel synthesis of gold nanoparticles, EPS-gold, and silica-gold bionanocomposites by biologically driven processes employing two diatom strains (Navicula atomus, Diadesmis gallica) is described. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction analysis (SAED) revealed a presence of gold nanoparticles in the experimental solutions of the diatom culture mixed with tetrachloroaureate. Nature of the gold nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and TEM showed that the nanoparticles were associated with the diatom frustules and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) excreted by the diatom cells. Due to its accessibility, simplicity, and effectiveness, this method of nanocomposites preparation has great importance for possible future applications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the support of this project (research grants MSM 6198910016, MSM 6007665801).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanotechnology Centre VŠB, Technical University of Ostrava, Poruba, 17. listopadu 15/2172, CZ, 708 33, Ostrava, Czech Republic

    Adam Schröfel & Gabriela Kratošová

  2. Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Markéta Bohunická

  3. Institute of Electrical Engineering, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Edmund Dobročka & Ivo Vávra

Authors
  1. Adam Schröfel
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  2. Gabriela Kratošová
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  3. Markéta Bohunická
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  4. Edmund Dobročka
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  5. Ivo Vávra
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Correspondence to Adam Schröfel.

Electronic supplementary material

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11051_2011_221_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Electronic Supporting Material Available: TEM micrograph of Navicula atomus cells after tetrachloroaureate addition (Supporting Fig. 1); SEM overview micrograph of Navicula atomus cells after tetrachloroaureate addition (Supporting Fig. 2); SEM micrograph of Diadesmis gallica cells after tetrachloroaureate addition. Association of gold nanoparticles with EPS structures between two DG frustules. (Supporting Fig. 3); TEM micrograph of Navicula atomus cells after tetrachloroaureate addition. Detail of silica deposit vesicles (marked with arrow) (Supporting Fig. 4). Supplementary material 1 (PDF 5009 kb)

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Schröfel, A., Kratošová, G., Bohunická, M. et al. Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using diatoms—silica-gold and EPS-gold bionanocomposite formation. J Nanopart Res 13, 3207–3216 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0221-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0221-6

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