Synthesis and characterization of pollen extract synthesized gold nanoparticles along with their anti̇mi̇crobi̇al effects using biochemical techniques

Although plant extracts have started to occupy an important place in inorganic nanoparticle synthesis, studies on nanoparticle morphology are very limited. In our study, aqueous extracts of 11 pollen species were prepared and used for gold and silver nanoparticle synthesis. Thirty-seven phytochemicals (e.g. flavonoids and phenolic acids) characterizing pollen chemistry were quantitatively determined by chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Total phenol, total flavonoids, reducing sugars and protein content were also determined. The effects of all these parameters on gold nanoparticle morphology were investigated by statistical methods. It was concluded that following the marker molecules in the determination of morphology would facilitate the determination of the whole chemistry in the extract chemistry. In addition, the ratio of high flavonoid amount to high phenolic acid amount in the extract chemistry is also important in following the nanoparticle morphology. Pollen extracts were found to have the reduction potential to synthesize silver nanoparticles. However, sugar ligands were added to the medium for the rapid synthesis of both gold and silver nanoparticles. Sugar ligands also made the nanoparticles more stable. While pollen extracts individually did not have an antibacterial effect, when used in the synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles, high antibacterial activity was observed depending on the pollen type. Bactericidal activity was observed at ppm levels for gram (-) and gram (+) bacteria used in the study. The results obtained show that pollen extract chemistry has an important potential in developing agents with high antibacterial activity.