Bioreduction of chloroaurate ions by geranium leaves and its endophytic fungus yields gold nanoparticles of different shapes

Development of biologically inspired experimental processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles is an important branch of nanotechnology. In this paper, we report on the use of geranium leaves (Pelargonium graveolens) and its endophytic fungus in the extra-cellular synthesis of gold nanoparticles. Sterilized geranium leaves and an endophytic fungus (Colletotrichum sp.) growing in the leaves were separately exposed to aqueous chloroaurate ions. In both cases, rapid reduction of the metal ions was observed resulting in the formation of stable gold nanoparticles of variable size. In the case of gold nanoparticles synthesized using geranium leaves, the reducing and capping agents appear to be terpenoids while they…

• CO
  Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India