Carnosine induced formation of silver nanochains: A radiolytic study

• Effect of carnosine on Ag clusters.
• Effect of carnosine on the size of Ag nanoparticles.
• Carnosine is an effective stabilizer for Ag nanoparticles.
• Effect of pH on the morphology of the Ag nanoparticles.

Interaction of carnosine with silver clusters and its nanoparticles is studied at pH 8.2 and 9.2. Using time resolved kinetic measurements we show that carnosine interacts with the charged silver clusters. Using ionizing radiation silver particles are also produced in aqueous solution. In the presence of carnosine distinct differences in the surface plasmon absorption band of Ag nanoparticles is observed with change in pH. The results suggest that silver nanochains get formed through dipole–dipole interaction due to weak interaction with carnosine. UV–Vis spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy are used to characterize the nanoparticles.