Biological Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Fungus Epicoccum nigrum

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles exhibit unique optical, thermal, chemical and physical properties. The microorganisms have high potential for production of nanoparticles with wide applications. Application of fungi to produce nanoparticles is potentially exciting because of their ability to secrete large amounts of enzymes. In this study, we investigated biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by the fungus Epicoccum nigrum isolated from Andalian gold mine in north-west of Iran. The gold nanoparticles were produced intra and extracellular by reaction of an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid with the biomass of fungus E. nigrum. The produced gold nanoparticles were in the size range of 5-50 nm in spherical and rod shapes. This is the first report on the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by the fungus E. nigrum. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.