Formation and Growth of Au Nanoparticles inside Live Alfalfa Plants

In modern nanotechnology one of the most exciting areas is the interaction between inorganic quantum dots and biological structures. For instance gold clusters surrounded by a shell of organic ligands covalently attach to proteins or other biological substances and can be used for labeling in structural biology. In the present report we show the possibility of using live plants for the fabrication of nanoparticles. Alfalfa plants were grown in an AuCl4 rich environment. The absorption of Au metal by the plants was confirmed by X-ray absorption studies (XAS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Atomic resolution analysis confirmed the nucleation and growth of Au nanoparticles inside the plant and that…

• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• UO
  University of Texas at El Paso