Abstract

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES USING FRUITS OF LUFFA CYLINDRICA

*Rachel Cordeiro, Reshma Tendulkar, Saba Shaikh, Jay Mehta, Heena Chhipa, Shivani Singh, Priya Gupta

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles are under immense study owing to their ease in synthesis, stability against oxidation, and biocompatibility. They also display unique optical properties. Nanoparticles are synthesized by different physical and chemical methods; however, they have a perilous impact on the environment due to their use of hazardous chemicals. Synthesis of gold nanoparticles by plant method is costeffective, environment-friendly, easy to implement, and easy to largescale manufacture. The phytochemicals in plant extract act as reducing and stabilizing agents to produce nanoparticles. This study depicts an optimized synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Luffa cylindrica fruit extract. Luffa cylindrica are known to possess properties such as analgesic, antirheumatic, hemostatic, and show pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, etc. The gold nanoparticles were synthesized by treating an aqueous solution of Luffa cylindrica plant extract with the chloroauric acid solution. Further, the synthesized gold nanoparticles were optimized by parameters such as the volume of extract, incubation time, temperature, and concentration of chloroauric acid. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis while particle size was determined. The Z-average particle size was found to be 92.18.

Keywords: Green synthesis, gold nanoparticles, Luffa cylindrica, Uv-visible spectrum, particle size, zeta potential, aqueous extract.