Intracellular gold nanoparticle formation by the green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata is attractive for green nanoparticle synthesis, gold recovery from aqueous solutions, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based cellular imaging. P. subcapitata was exposed to 0.005-0.5 mM HAuCl4 in OECD/OCDE media and shaken under fluorescent lighting for 72 hours. Cell growth and nanoparticle formation were monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy, environmental SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. Although 0.005-0.04 mM HAuCl4 had little effect on P. subcapitata growth rates, growth halted in 0.08-0.5 mM HAuCl4 samples in which intracellular gold nanoparticles of various sizes were observed. Cell structure was examined using TEM cross sectioning and SERS spectral maps across individual cells. Because SERS enhances Raman signals of species positioned within nanometers of gold nanostructures, SERS spectra collected from intracellular nanoparticles provide insight into intracellular nanoparticle formation mechanisms and the specific interactions between gold nanoparticles and algal organelles.

Intracellular gold nanoparticle formation by <i>Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata</i> and characterization by ESEM, TEM, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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Intracellular gold nanoparticle formation by Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and characterization by ESEM, TEM, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)