"Green" Synthesis and antioxidant activity of thermally stable gold nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanosheets

We have developed a "green" method for fabricating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through biogenic approaches. The proposed method has the advantages of facile preparation under ecofriendly conditions. AuNPs encapsulated in carbon nanosheets, and exhibiting high thermal stability, were fabricated by autoclaving pectin-capped AuNPs, which were subsequently collected through high-speed centrifugation and redispersed in aqueous solution. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging assay indicated that our prepared AuNPs exhibited more prolonged antioxidant capacity than pristine apple extracts. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra showed that approximately 80% of DPPH radicals were scavenged by the pectin-capped AuNPs at a concentration of 3 mg/mL. According to our results, AuNPs prepared through biogenic approaches have potential use in the food industry.