Biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles by yeast Magnusiomyces ingens LH-F1 for catalytic reduction of nitrophenols

•This is the first report on AuNPs biosynthesis by Magnusiomyces ingens.•Various shaped AuNPs were synthesized by strain LH-F1.•Some biomolecules were found to be absorbed on the surface of AuNPs.•AuNPs showed excellent catalytic activities for the reduction of nitrophenols.

In the present study, the biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was achieved using the yeast cells of Magnusiomyces ingens LH-F1. Based on UV–vis spectral analysis, 2.2 mg/mL biomass (OD600 = 2.0) and 1.0 mM HAuCl4 were preferable for AuNPs synthesis by strain LH-F1. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that various shaped nanoparticles were obtained, including sphere, triangle and hexagon. Based on the analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), some biomolecules were absorbed on the surface of AuNPs, which could be involved in the formation of AuNPs. The as-synthesized AuNPs exhibited excellent catalytic activities for the reduction of nitrophenols (i.e. 4-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol and 2-nitrophenol) to aminophenols in the presence NaBH4. This is the first report on AuNPs biosynthesis by Magnusiomyces ingens, which may serve as an efficient candidate for green synthesis of metal nanoparticles.

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