Photosynthetic electron transport system promotes synthesis of Au-nanoparticles

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 20;8(8):e71123. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071123. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

In this communication, a novel, green, efficient and economically viable light mediated protocol for generation of Au-nanoparticles using most vital organelle, chloroplasts, of the plant system is portrayed. Thylakoids/chloroplasts isolated from Potamogeton nodosus (an aquatic plant) and Spinacia oleracea (a terrestrial plant) turned Au³⁺ solutions purple in presence of light of 600 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photon flux density (PFD) and the purple coloration intensified with time. UV-Vis spectra of these purple colored solutions showed absorption peak at ∼545 nm which is known to arise due to surface plasmon oscillations specific to Au-nanoparticles. However, thylakoids/chloroplasts did not alter color of Au³⁺ solutions in dark. These results clearly demonstrated that photosynthetic electron transport can reduce Au³⁺ to Au⁰ which nucleate to form Au-nanoparticles in presence of light. Transmission electron microscopic studies revealed that Au-nanoparticles generated by light driven photosynthetic electron transport system of thylakoids/chloroplasts were in range of 5-20 nm. Selected area electron diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction indicated crystalline nature of these nanoparticles. Energy dispersive X-ray confirmed that these nanoparticles were composed of Au. To confirm the potential of light driven photosynthetic electron transport in generation of Au-nanoparticles, thylakoids/chloroplasts were tested for their efficacy to generate Au-nanoparticles in presence of light of PFD ranging from 60 to 600 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. The capacity of thylakoids/chloroplasts to generate Au-nanoparticles increased remarkably with increase in PFD, which further clearly demonstrated potential of light driven photosynthetic electron transport in reduction of Au³⁺ to Au⁰ to form nanoparticles. The light driven donation of electrons to metal ions by thylakoids/chloroplasts can be exploited for large scale production of nanoparticles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electron Transport
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Light
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photosynthesis*
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / chemistry
  • Potamogetonaceae / chemistry*
  • Spinacia oleracea / chemistry*
  • Thylakoids / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
  • Gold

Grants and funding

Ms. NS is receiving a Fellowship from University Grants Commission (Government of India) as she qualified Nationwide Examination held for selecting suitable candidates for Doctoral Research (i.e. this fellowship is provided for Ph.D. programme). Prof. PPS was provided with financial support by University of Delhi to take care of general research activities of his research team. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.