Síntesis verde y caracterización de nanopartículas de oro y plata mediante el uso de algunas plantas endémicas del Ecuador

Abstract

This research project describes the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles, using leaf extracts of four endemic plants of Ecuador, as reducing and stabilizing agents in nanoparticles formation. The plants selected for this research were: ice-cream bean tree of Tumbaco (Inga insignis), carob tree of Quito (Mimosa quitensis), lupini of Rumipamba (Lupinus pubescens) and andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus). Nanoparticles obtained were characterized by UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Spherical gold and silver nanoparticles of various sizes were obtained with I. insignis and M. quitensis extracts. With R. glaucus extract, gold nanorods and silver nanospheres were obtained. With L. pubiscens extract, silver and gold particles with an effective diameter greater than the nanometric scale were formed. Due to the biochemical characteristics of the extracts used in this research and their antioxidant activity, these synthesized nanoparticles are promising candidates for biomedical applications. Based on the results obtained, it was possible to verify the efficacy of these native plants in the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles, so that, in the country this environmentally friendly methodology could be used in the areas related to nanotechnology.