Protein-directed gold nanoparticles with excellent catalytic activity for 4-nitrophenol reduction

- Size-tailored Au@BSA NPs were prepared at environmentally friendly conditions.
- Au@BSA NPs were found to possess remarkable catalytic activity on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol.
- The reduction rate was closely related with the sizes of Au@BSA NPs and reaction temperature, and the catalytic mechanism was verified to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetics.

To explore high-performance noble metal nanomaterials for the reduction of the biotoxin 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in medicine, we developed a green synthesis strategy of bovine serum albumin-stabilized Au nanoparticles (Au@BSA NPs). The as-synthesized Au@BSA NPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum, fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The functional bio-nanocomposites showed Au-protein core-shell structure and uniform distribution, and their sizes were dependent on the additive amount of HAuCl4. Interestingly, Au@BSA NPs showed remarkable catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP into 4-aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. Due to the introduction of Au@BSA NPs, the reduction reaction could be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure without any additional conditions. Moreover, the reduction rate was closely related to the sizes of NPs and reaction temperature, and the catalytic mechanism was verified to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetics. Due to the environmentally friendly synthesis process and green reduction strategy of 4-NP, Au@BSA NPs would show great potential in governance of the biotoxin in medicine.