Size-Dependent Antioxidant Effects of Gold Nanocrystalline Films Obtained Via a Facile Electrodeposition Technique
摘要
The exceptional chemical and physical properties of gold nanoparticles have led to their significant use in both medicinal and cosmetic applications. Unlike common biosynthetic approaches, this study investigates the intrinsic antioxidant properties of gold particles by synthesizing gold nanocrystalline films (AuNFs) via electrodeposition, without employing phytochemical compound. By varying the scan rate, deposited films with different particle sizes were obtained. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of a face-centered cubic structure of metallic gold. Morphological studies employing a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) showed that the deposited film consisted of relatively fine particles, providing numerous active sites for the radical scavenging mechanism. Antioxidant assays demonstrated that the deposited film exhibited promising antioxidant activity, particularly with a large number of very fine gold particles. This was evidenced by their performance in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, which showed a maximum inhibition of 43.91%, and the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay, which recorded a maximum reduction of 38.22%. These results highlight the notable antioxidative capabilities of gold nanoparticles, especially those produced under specific experimental conditions, suggesting their potential in addressing issues related to oxidative stress.