Radiation synthesis and characterization of protein stabilized gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles were synthesized in a single step and a facile procedure by γ-irradiation using bovine serum albumin protein as a stabilizer. The results of UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that spherical well-dispersed gold nanoparticles ranging from 2 to 7 nm were generated, depending on the irradiation doses. The conjugation of BSA to the gold nanoparticles was indicated using FTIR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. Moreover, the effect of irradiation on the BSA structure in the presence and absence of Au3+ was studied by SDS-PAGE analysis. It became evident that gold nanoparticles formation partially protected against the degradation and aggregation of BSA. Methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay demonstrated that the generated gold nanoparticles are not cytotoxic to mammalian cells in cultures.