Carbohydrates as Potent Nanosynthesizers: A Comparative Account

摘要

Common carbohydrates of distinct classes (mono, di and polysaccharides) were examined to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and a comparison was made about the efficacy towards synthesizing the Ag NPs and properties of the later. Six monosaccharides (L-rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, glucose, fructose and galactose), three disaccharides (sucrose, maltose and cellobiose) and two polysaccharides (starch and agar) were tested as reducing agents of silver ions. The formation and stabilization of Ag NPs was assessed with UV-Vis, PL and FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and EDAX measurements. Distinctive colors with varying λ_(max) on UV-Vis and PL spectra were observed in the aqueous solutions of the Ag NPs produced by different carbohydrates. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed the attachment of carbohydrate moieties to Ag NPs. On SEM and EDAX measurements, agar exhibited the best results by producing the smallest Ag NPs (30-50 nm) with high yield, which makes it suitable for industrial production of Ag NPs.