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Green synthesis of lipophilic capping agents and functionalised gold nanoparticles for potential biomedical applications / PRANAV PREMDAS

Swansea University Author: PRANAV PREMDAS

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the development of green synthetic methods and strategies for the production of cationic lipophilic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and hydrophobic organic compound such as hydroxylpropyltripheylphosphonium bromide. For the green synthesis of the latter, a novel approach for method...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2023
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Research
Degree name: MSc by Research
Supervisor: Ju-Nam, Yon. and Ojeda Ledo, Jesus.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63697
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Abstract: This thesis focuses on the development of green synthetic methods and strategies for the production of cationic lipophilic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and hydrophobic organic compound such as hydroxylpropyltripheylphosphonium bromide. For the green synthesis of the latter, a novel approach for method development was successfully employed, which consisted of the use of Aspen Plus simulation software to model the reaction between triphenylphosphine and bromopropanol in 100% water, prior planning experimental work in the laboratory.Operating parameters generated from the simulation work (100% water, temperature 850C, reaction time 5 hours, atmospheric pressure) were replicated in the laboratory, and hydroxylpropyltripheylphosphonium bromide crystals were obtained. The infrared spectrum of this compound indicated the presence of the most characteristic functional groups from the chemical structure (-OH, P-C, C=C and C-H). The initial Aspen simulation work helped to reduce excessive use of reactants and reagents, and chemical wastage in the laboratory.Following the theme of this thesis, green chemistry principles were employed to improve the synthesis of cationic lipophilic AuNPs. Two green methods were developed for the functionalisation of AuNPs both using different ratios of dimethylformamide: water (1:2 and 1:5) and reaction temperatures of 80 and 1000C, following different orders in which the reactants were mixed. TEM analyses showed that the mixing order of the reactants, temperature and concentration of reducing agent were the main factors affecting the particle sizes in the gold colloidal samples (3.13 – 8.01 nm). Cationic lipophilic AuNPs prepared following a greener method showed good stability over a period of 6 months.
Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, ligand, Aspen Plus, Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering