Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Extract of Asphodelus Aestivus, Coating with Chitosan Biopolymer and Cytotoxicity Studies

The green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) was carried out by pouring the aqueous extract of East Anatolian origin Asphodelus aestivus plant onto aqueous gold metal ions and reducing them via single-step one- pot method. The absorption peak of the synthesized nanoparticles gave a maximum at 575 nm. All the X-ray diffraction peaks at 2θ = 38.25 , 44.46 , 64.64 and 77.20 that index to (111), (200), (220), and (311) planes verify the successful synthesis of Au-NPs. Mostly spherical shape particles showed a homogeneous distribution with size range 20±5 nm are measured using TEM. From the FTIR spectrum, the peaks are seems to be related to phenolic compounds, flavonoids, benzophenones, terpenoids and anthocyanins which assume that they could act as the reducing agents. The plant extraction, one-pot, single-step method used is environmentally safe without the role of synthetic materials which is highly potential in mild and green synthesis applications. The Au-NPs were coated with chitosan biopolymer in aquatic solution medium and verified by SEM. Then, cytotoxic investigations of the biosynthesized Au-NPs were carried out by HUVEC cells. Au-NPs were showed toxic effects on cell culture, even if in a small amount. However, chitosan biopolymer coating increased cell viability.Keywords: Gold nanoparticle, Biosynthesis, Asphodelus aestivus, Biopolymer coating, Cytotoxicity