Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Alginate-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles

An efficient and rapid method for preparation of Au nanoparticles (Au-NP) has been developed by direct microwave irradiation of metal precursor and alginate mixed solution in a single step. Here, alginate molecules act as both the reducing and stabilizing agents of Au-NP. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, particle size analyzer, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticles have a spherical form and perfectly capped with alginate when using alginate and chloro auric acid (HAuCl4) precursor in the concentration range of 0.50 to 0.75% (w/v) and 0.40 mM, respectively. The use of a lower concentration of alginate and/or higher concentration of HAuCl4 caused agglomeration to occur, thereby resulting in a bigger size of Au-NP and red shifting of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak to a higher wavelength.