Facile synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Mimusops coriacea leaves extract

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles have attracted great interest from the scientific community in recent years due to their wide variety of applications in various science areas. The green synthesis shows a sustainable alternative to obtain nanomaterials and aims to use biological materials to replace chemical reagents, traditionally used in these processes. In this work gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were synthesized using aqueous leaf of Mimusops coriacea (McAuNP). The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by different techniques, such as UV-Vis; fluorescence; FTIR; transmission electron microscopy (TEM); dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Zeta potential. Variations in the pH of the medium, concentration of the reagents and pH were applied, aiming to optimize the synthesis processes. The method to synthesize gold nanoparticles using Mimusops coriacea leaves extract presented high reproducibility and is in accordance with the principles of green chemistry and sustainability, presenting a low-cost and biocompatible alternative to obtain AuNPs. Antimicrobial action of McAuPs was tested using minimum inhibitory concentration test.