Biosynthesis of stabilised gold nanoparticle using an aglycone flavonoid, quercetin

Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was obtained by a simple chemical reduction method using a plant-derived aglycone flavonoid, quercetin, as a reducing agent. The aqueous chloroauric acid when exposed to quercetin was reduced and converted to AuNPs in the size range from 20 to 45 nm. AuNPs were characterised by UV–visual spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering method. These quercetin-mediated AuNPs have shown excellent stability for more than 30 days at 2–8°C. These quercetin-stabilised AuNPs will have an enormous potential for further conjugation studies since no other external stabilising agent is used.