In situ preparation of gold nanoparticles in alginate gel matrix by solution plasma sputtering process

The rapid synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was done by solution plasma sputtering (SPS) process in the presence of a biopolymer, sodium alginate. We utilized the alginate polymer in order to meet three important requirements: (1) to promote the generation of plasma in liquid environment, (2) to provide colloidal stability, and (3) to render biocompatibility to the AuNPs. The effect of sodium alginate concentration (varied as 0.2, 0.5, and 0.9 %w/v) and plasma sputtering time on the particle size and the physical absorption property of the AuNPs were studied. The results indicated that preparation of AuNPs in alginate gel matrix was successful by the SPS process in one step without any reducing agents. This technique has high potential as a novel strategy to produce AuNPs suspended in alginate aqueous solution which is suitable for biomedical application.