Intermediate-dominated controllable biomimetic synthesis of gold nanoparticles in a quasi-biological system.

A new biomimetic strategy of creating a quasi-biological system (an aqueous solution containing electrolytes, peptide, enzyme and coenzyme) for the preparation of gold nanoparticles with uniform and tunable sizes has been put forward and validated, adopting environmentally-friendly reducing agents and a biocompatible capping ligand in aqueous solution at room temperature. The biomimetic synthetic route has the characteristics for good stability of the resulting AuNPs capped with glutathione via strong Au-S bond in aqueous solution, an appropriate composition of the intermediate with a redox potential favorable for the biomimetic reduction under mild conditions, suitable pH values to adjust the rate of the reduction, and the addition of enzyme catalyzing the reduction. By only adjusting the concentration of the reducing agent NADPH, a series of AuNPs with narrow size-distribution could be controllably synthesized. This method of rational utilization of biological processes could provide a new way for the sustainable development of nanotechnology.