Although researchers have explored the syntheses of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) few have addressed optimization and reproducibility, particularly in aqueous AuNP syntheses. This work established conditions that produced several distinct sizes of AuNPs and evaluated the reproducibility of our methods. Citrate, l-cysteine, and NaBH4 were all successfully used as reducing agents reacting with auric acid (HAuCl4) to create AuNPs. Capping agents prevent aggregation of AuNPs. Different ratios of citrate to gold yielded distinct size AuNPs with citrate functioning as both a capping and reducing agent. Additionally, l-cysteine was used with and without NaBH4. Alone l-cysteine served to both reduce the gold and cap the AuNPs. NaBH4 both reduced Au3+ and broke disulfide bonds formed by extra l-cysteine keeping it available to serve as a capping agent. A library of AuNPs is being established for use in a biosensing platform.

Reproducibility and optimization of aqueous gold nanoparticle (AuNP) syntheses

245th National Meeting (2013)

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