Biofunctionalized silver and gold nanoparticles as potential curative agents

In this study, the bark of an important medicinal plant, Indigofera aspalathoides is utilized as a bioreductant for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The formation of nanoparticles was monitored, and the reaction parameters were optimized by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The attachment of biocomponents as stabilizer was proved employing Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) studies. Through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the morphology was found to be predominantly spherical and a mixture of triangle and hexagon in the case of AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively. The crystallite size of AgNPs and AuNPs was affirmed through X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies using Sherrer formula as 22.03 and 47.70 nm, respectively. DPPH method was adopted to analyse the free‐radical quenching ability, and the AgNPs, AuNPs and extract showed inhibition of 76%, 89% and 59% at a concentration of 200 μg ml^?1, and the corresponding IC₅₀ values were 86.49, 55.20 and 149.19 μg ml^?1. The binding of nanoparticles to calf‐thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was through groove and the high binding constants (8.49 × 10⁶ M^?1 and 2.34 × 10⁷ M^?1 for AgNPs and AuNPs) point out the potential of these nanoparticles as curative drugs. The MTT assay showed that AgNPs were 100% toxic, and the low IC₅₀ value suggests that this can be used in the medicinal field as a safe drug.     

Large sample neutron activation analysis of dross for gold and silver

Large sample neutron activation analysis of dross from India Government Mint, Mumbai was carried out for quantification of gold (Au) and silver (Ag) using graphite reflector position of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor critical facility at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. The k ₀-based internal monostandard NAA was used to calculate concentration ratios of Au and Ag with respect to sodium (Na), which was used as an internal monostandard. The concentration ratio values of Au to Na of varying mass of dross showed that mass ≥2 g was the representative sample size for analysis. Concentrations of gold and silver were found to be in the range of 200–400 and 1200–1700 mg kg^?1, respectively in three different samples.     

Preconcentration of silver(I), gold(III) and palladium(II) in sea water with p-dimethylaminobenzylidenerhodanine supported on silica gel

A water-insoluble chelating material, p-dimethylaminobenzylidenerhodanine on silica gel (DMABR—SG) is described for preconcentration of trace amounts of silver(I), gold(III) and palladium(II) from water samples. Radioactive tracers (^110mAg and ¹⁹⁵Au) were used to study the behavior of silver and gold; palladium was monitored spectrophotometrically as its 1-(2-pyridylazo)naphthol complex in chloroform. In batch experiments, silver was quantitatively retained on the DMABR—SG at acidities ranging from 1.7 M to pH 5, and gold from 3 M to pH 5; equilibrium was achieved within 1 min for both elements. From sea water, silver ion was completely retained at pH 1.0–6.5 and gold ion at pH 1.0–3.5. In the case of palladium, shaking for about 20 min was required for quantitative retention at pH 1.0–5.0 for aqueous solution and at pH 1.0–7.0 for sea water. The chelating capacity of the DMABR—SG was 23 μmol Ag, 11 μmol Au and 11 μmol Pd per g. Quantitative recovery of silver and gold on DMABR—SG columns from sea water was achieved at higher flow rates (1–2 l h^-1 and 2–3 l h^-1, respectively) than with other chelating resins, e.g., Chelex 100, palladium required slower flow rate (150 ml h^-1). Silver retained on the DMABR—SG column was completely eluted with 20 ml of 2.5% sodium thiosulfate solution but palladium remained on the column. Silver, gold and palladium were quantitatively eluted with 20 ml of 0.1% thiourea in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid.     

Flow potentiometric and constant-current stripping analysis for silver(I) with carbon- and platinum-fibre electrodes

At concentrations above 50 μg l^?1, silver(I) is determined in nitric acid medium by means of potentiostatic deposition onto a platinum-fibre electrode and subsequent constant-current stripping in the sample or potentiometric stripping in a potassium permanganate medium. Interference from copper(II) is reduced by a pulsed potential procedure whereby copper deposited onto the fibre electrode is reoxidized intermittently. At concentrations below 50 μg l^?1, silver(I) is determined by using a mercury-coated carbon-fibre electrode and constant-current stripping in acetonitrile containing 0.20 M perchloric acid. Potentiostatic deposition for 30 min yielded a detection limit of 0.24 μg l^?1 silver(I) at the 3σ level.     

Lower limits of the potentiometric microtitration of chloride with silver ions

The lower levels of the potentiometric titration of chloride with silver ions were investigated. The titrant was 0.001 N acetonic silver perchlorate. The titration media were acetone and acetic anhydride:acetone (4:1). A silver sulfide ion-selective indicator electrode and a double-junction reference electrode were use to monitor emf's. This titration is limited only by the trace amounts of chloride in the reagents used. Satisfactory results and well-defined titration curves were obtained down to 7 μg of chloride per 50 ml of solution (0.2 μmol; 4 × 10^?6N).A small polarization current can be used to enhance the potentiometric breaks of this titration. In an 80% methanolic medium with 0.001 N aqueous silver nitrate and a polarization current of ?0.4 μA, the lower practical limit of this titration was near 22.3 μg of chloride (1.26 × 10^?5N).     

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of gold and silver from environmental samples using different extractants followed by electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry

Ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry has been applied to the determination of silver and gold at μg g^{− 1} levels in different environmental samples such as soil, sediment, fly ash and industrial sludge. Two different extraction systems have been tried, i.e. acid mixtures (HCl, HF, and HNO₃) and thiourea in diluted H₂SO₄ medium. In both cases, an efficient cup-horn sonoreactor was used as ultrasonic device to accelerate the extraction process. This ultrasonic processor allows the use of any extractant including HF and simultaneous treatment of up to six samples. Recovery ranged from 81% to 107% for silver, and from 91% to 105% for gold. Optimal acid mixtures were 25% v/v HNO₃ + 25% v/v HF for Ag and 25% v/v HNO₃ + 25% v/v HCl for Au. The thiourea method required 0.6% m/v thiourea + 2% v/v H₂SO₄. The latter method was considered advantageous since efficient Au and Ag extractions were obtained in a short time, and moreover, wastes generated were less harmful to the environment. Limits of detection for Ag and Au were 0.012 and 0.050 μg g^{− 1}, respectively. Repeatability expressed as relative standard deviation ranged from 2 to 10% for both metals. Both extraction methods were applied to the determination of Au and Ag in sediments and soils located at different sampling points from Galicia (Spain).     

Determination of trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron and steel by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after reductive coprecipitation

Trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron or steel were preconcentrated by reductive coprecipitation with palladium using ascorbic acid, and determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). Both gold and silver could be simultaneously separated and sensitively determined in 10 metals (aluminum, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium and zinc). Comparable values were obtained for gold and silver in reference materials (low alloy steel) by the proposed method and a non-separation method; good agreement was found between the analytical values by both methods and the certified values. The proposed method is easy, simple and not dependent on sample composition and content. Moreover, gold and silver in metal samples could be simultaneously separated together with selenium and tellurium. The detection limits for gold and silver (3 σ) are 0.003 μg g^–1 and 0.002 μg g^–1, respectively. Received: 3 February 2000 / Revised: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 16 April 2000     

Determination of trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron and steel by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after reductive coprecipitation

Trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron or steel were preconcentrated by reductive coprecipitation with palladium using ascorbic acid, and determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). Both gold and silver could be simultaneously separated and sensitively determined in 10 metals (aluminum, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium and zinc). Comparable values were obtained for gold and silver in reference materials (low alloy steel) by the proposed method and a non-separation method; good agreement was found between the analytical values by both methods and the certified values. The proposed method is easy, simple and not dependent on sample composition and content. Moreover, gold and silver in metal samples could be simultaneously separated together with selenium and tellurium. The detection limits for gold and silver (3 σ) are 0.003 μg g^–1 and 0.002 μg g^–1, respectively. Received: 3 February 2000 / Revised: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 16 April 2000     

The determination of gold by anodic stripping voltammetry

A method is described for the routine determination of gold as its chloride or cyanide complex by anodic stripping voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode coupled to a microprocessor-controlled voltammeter. The preferred supporting electrolyte is 0.1 M HCl/0.32 M HNO₃, with plating at ?200 mV or ?1200 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The stripping peak potentials range from 830 to 1150 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) depending on concentration and plating time. Precision (percent relative standard deviation) is better than 5 % for a range of concentrations between 5 μg l^?1 and 1000 μg l^?1. The detection limit is about 5 μg l^?1 for a 5-min plating period. Interferences from Cu, Hg, Ag and other electroactive species are overcome by preliminary extraction with diethyl ether.     

Bacterio- and lymphocytotoxicity of silver nanocomposite with sulfated arabinogalactan

The antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of the silver-containing drug, which is zerovalent metallic silver nanoparticles stabilized by sulfated arabinogalactan, towards human lymphocytes were evaluated. The bacteriostatic concentration towards E. coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ESBL1224, S. aureus MRSA34R, S. aureus ATCC 29213, and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and hospital strains E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and P. mirabilis ranges from 3 to 50 μg mL^?1. Their bactericidal activity varies from 5 to 100 μg mL^?1, and the concentration of the nanocomposite toxic to isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes is 5 μg m^L?1.     

Automated determination of total arsenic in sea water by flow constant-current stripping analysis with gold fibre electrodes

Total arsenic in sea water is determined in a fully automated flow system, by means of potentiostatic deposition for 4 min at a 25-μm gold fibre electrode and subsequent constant-current stripping in 5 M hydrochloric acid. Previously the sample is acidified with hydrochloric and arsenic(V) is reduced to arsenic(III) with iodide. During stripping, the potential vs. time transient is recorded with a real-time measurement rate of 26.5 kHz and a potential resolution of 1 mV. Cleaning and regeneration of the gold electrode are fully automated. The total arsenic concentrations in two reference sea waters (NASS-1 and CASS-1) were evaluated by single-point standard addition and found to be 1.58 and 1.14 μg l^?1 with standard deviations of 0.39 and 0.28 μg l^?1, respectively; certified values are 1.65 ± 0.19 and 1.04 ± 0.07 μg l^?1. The arsenic(III) content in these samples was below the detection limit (0.15 μg l^?1).     

Extraction of gold(III) from low-grade ores with amidines followed by its spectrophotometric determination with methylene blue

A procedure is described in which gold(III) is quantitatively extracted with an amidine into chloroform over the acidity range pH 3.0–11.0 M HCl, followed by its selective spectrophotometric determination by interaction of the extract with methylene blue in the pH range 3.0–9.0. The molar absorptivity of the coloured complex formed by extraction with ten different amidines and methylene blue reaction lie in the range 1.1 × 10⁴?6.5 × 10⁴ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1 at λ_max (650 nm) in chloroform. The simplest compound, N, N′-diphenylbenzamidine, was chosen for detailed study. The limit of detection is 5 μg Au l^?1. The method is free from interferences from the metals that are generally associated with gold. The method is simple, reproducible and applicable to the accurate recovery of gold from low-grade ores containing the metal at levels of > 1.5 μg g^?1.     

Determination of Thallium at A Silver‐Gold Alloy Electrode by Voltammetric Methods in Plant Material and Bottom Sediment Containing Cd and Pb

The applicability of the subtractive anodic stripping voltammetry (SASV) using the square‐wave mode at the silver‐gold alloy electrode has been studied for thallium determination in the presence of large amount of lead and cadmium in natural samples. 10 mmol L^?1 perchloric acid was found as the most suitable supporting electrolyte for determination in synthetic solutions. The thallium peak was separated about 200 mV from Cd+Pb peak. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid addition was necessary to determine thallium at the silver‐gold alloy electrode in digested plant and sediment. The determination limit was equal to 1.4 μg L^?1. The method was validated by the inter‐method comparison (ICP‐MS).     

A study of localised galvanic replacement of copper and silver films with gold using scanning electrochemical microscopy

Galvanic replacement represents a highly significant process for the fabrication of bimetallic materials, but to date its application has been limited to either modification of large area metal surfaces or nanoparticles in solution. Here, the localised surface modification of copper and silver substrates with gold through the galvanic replacement process is reported. This was achieved by generation of a localised flux of AuCl₄^? ions from a gold ultramicroelectrode tip which interacts with the unbiased substrate of interest. The extent of modification with gold can be controlled through the tip–substrate distance and electrolysis time.     

Trace Detection of Mercury(II) Using Gold Ultra‐Microelectrode Arrays

The electroanalytical detection of trace mercury(II) at gold ultra‐microelectrode arrays is reported. The arrays consist of 256 gold microelectrodes of 5 μm in diameter in cubic arrangements which are separated from their nearest neighbor by 100 μm. The array was utilized in nitric acid using linear sweep voltammetry where a linear response from mercury additions over the range 10 μg L^?1?200 μg L^?1 (10^?8?10^?6 M) was observed with a sensitivity and detection limit of 0.11 nC/μg L^?1 and 3.2 μg L^?1 (16 nM) respectively from using a deposition time of 30 s at ?0.2 V (vs. SCE). This methodology was explored in 0.1 and 1 M chloride media over the mercury range 10 μg L^?1?200 μg L^?1 (5×10^?8?10^?6 M) where similar sensitivities of 0.087 nC/μg L^?1 and 0.078 nC/μg L^?1 were observed with an identical detection limit. The protocol is demonstrated to be useful for the determination of mercury for analysis of environmental water samples.     

Indirect potentiometric flow-injection determination of silver in photographic fixing solutions

The thiosulfate present in fixing solutions was destroyed on-line by acidification and the undissolved gaseous products were separated from the flow stream by use of polytetrafluoroethylene microporous tubing. The silver was precipitated with an excess of sulfide, and the excess was measured with a silver/silver sulfide electrode. Silver was determined in several ranges from 1 mg 1^?1 to 10 g l^?1.     

Efficient gold and silver electrodes for surface enchanced raman spectral studies of electrochemical systems: The behaviour of pyridine and naphthalene adsorbed on roughened gold electrodes

A method is described whereby surface enhanced Raman (SER) active electrode surfaces of gold and silver may be made without recourse to the oxidation—reduction techniques which have been used hitherto. This method involves electroplating at low current density from dilute (< 10^?2M) solutions of a suitable salt or complex in the absence of supporting electrolyte.Scanning electron microscopy shows the surfaces to consist of small spherical particles of fairly constant diameter packed together on the electrode. The sphere diameters are typically 70 nm (gold) and 180 nm (silver) for electrodes prepared in this manner. These electrodes exhibit intense SER scattering and have advantages over oxidation—reduction roughened electrodes. As examples of their utility some results are presented relating to the gold/pyridine and gold/naphthalene systems and these are discussed in relation to results obtained by other workers in similar systems using different methods, i.e., ellipsometry and differential capacitance variation.     

Colorimetric Determination of Propofol in Bulk form,Dosage Form and Biological Fluids

ABSTRACT

Propofol is coupled with 2, 6-dichloroquinone-4-chlorimide (DCQ) in a reaction buffered at pH 9.6 to give a colored product having an analytically useful maximum at 635 nm. The factors affecting the color generation were optimized and incorporated in the procedure. The reacted propofol has a molar absorptivity of 3.9 × 10^?4 L mol^?1 cm^?1, and Beer's law is obeyed for concentrations 1-5 μg ml^?1 with detection limit 0.25 μg ml^?1. The method was found applicable to biological fluids (plasma and urine) spiked with propofol at concentration levels 1-5 μg ml^?1 for plasma and 1-5 μg 0.5 ml^?1 urine (less sensitivity is obtained with urine volumes above 0.5 ml) with detection limits 0.28 μg ml^?1 for plasma and 0.4 μg 0.5 ml^?1 urine. The average recovery for the commercial preparation (1% w/v propofol emulsion intravenous injection for infusion) was 99.54% with an RSD of 1.05%. The method was validated by an adopted HPLC method. The results obtained by the HPLC method for the commercial preparation were statistically compared with the proposed method and evaluated at the 95% confidence limits.     

A study of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate adsorption on silica from silver and gold organosols

Adsorption of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT) and silver and gold nanoparticles on SiO₂ from heptane solutions has been investigated by spectophotometery and CHN analysis. The adsorption isotherm of Aerosol OT is described by the Langmuir equation. Sorption capacity (2.4 × 10^–4 mol/g), sorption constant (9.0 m³/mol), and area per Aerosol OT molecule in an adsorption layer (0.83 nm²) have been determined. It has been shown that, at Aerosol OT concentrations lower than 6 × 10^–4 M, gold and silver ((0.3–6) × 10^–4 M) are simultaneously extracted by 98%; however, they have no effect on the adsorption and determination of the surfactant.     

Simultaneous determination of mercury(II), copper(II) and bismuth(III) in urine by flow constant-current stripping analysis with a gold fibre electrode

Urine samples are treated with concentrated nitric acid and potassium permanganate ar 70°C for 10 min prior to injection. The flow electrode system consists of a 10-μm diameter gold fibre working electrode, a glassy carbon reference electrode and a platinum counter electrode. In the fully automated constant-current stripping procedure, the gold fibre is first covered with a fresh gold film after which the sample is electrolyzed for 1 min prior to stripping in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid with a current of 0.1μA. The procedure is repeated on a spiked sample after which the sample analyte concentrations are evaluated and presented digitally and graphically on a printer/plotter. The results obtained for bismuth, copper and mercury in a urine reference sample were 36.9, 39.7 and 47.7 μg l^?1 with standard deviations (n=10) of 3.2, 4.2 and 2.1, respectively. The certified values for copper and mercury were 45 and 51 μg l^?1; no certified value was available for bismuth.