Fabrication of innocuous gold nanoparticles using plant cells in culture

Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 19;9(1):12040. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48475-9.

Abstract

Plant extracts and their different growth phases have been manipulated for the fabrication of nanomaterials, which can be an eco-friendly alternative to the chemical methods that produce hazardous by-products. However, practical difficulties in isolation of the nanoparticles obtained through biological methods and the scanty control that these methods allow over their shapes and sizes impose limitations in their utility. For the first time, we report here a versatile system using cell suspension culture of Medicago sativa, which ensures control over the reaction to regulate size of the particles as well as their easier recovery afterwards. Isolated nanoparticles were characterized for their shape, size and functions. The particles varied in shapes from isodiametric spheres to exotic tetrahedrons, pentagons and pentagonal prisms. They clearly demonstrated catalytic activity in the reduction reaction of methylene blue by stannous chloride. Interestingly, the cell culture-derived particles were found less cytotoxic to healthy human cell line HEp-2 while more cytotoxic to the cancer cell line 4T-1 in comparison to those synthesized through citrate method. However, when administered in mice, these nanoparticles elicited similar inflammatory responses as those produced by chemically synthesized counterparts. These results envisage the utility of these particles for various biological applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gold* / adverse effects
  • Gold* / chemistry
  • Green Chemistry Technology
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / ultrastructure
  • Metals, Heavy / adverse effects
  • Metals, Heavy / chemistry
  • Plant Cells*
  • Plant Extracts

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Plant Extracts
  • Gold