Gold Nanoparticles: Specific Properties and Applications Essay (Critical Writing)

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles can be applied in various industries, more specifically they are helpful in medicine as antimicrobial agents. The knowledge gap, however, is the synthesis of this article and the specific properties of clear and milk latex GNP. This research aim is to identify an environmentally friendly approach to creating GNP from plant material. Various tests to determine the characteristics and toxicity of substances are applied in this research. The findings suggest that clear latex has better features when compared to milk-based latex. This relates to its antimicrobial properties and toxicity, implying the possibility to use it in medicine and biology. Future implication requires additional research to determine the specific approaches to production.

Introduction

Gold nanoparticles (GNP) have the potential of helping scientists in the field of biology, technology, and medicine who aim to create new approaches by applying the optical and electronic characteristics of GNP. Therefore, the question of methods of producing GNP by using different substances arises. The article that is examined is titled “Synthesis and Characterisation of Gold Nanoparticles by Using Plant Latex and Their Potential against the Mastitis Causing Microorganisms.” This paper aims to analyze the purpose of the article, the methods used by the authors, and the implications of results.

Overall Structure and Minor Points

The primary aim was to define the differences in milk latex and clear latex produced by various plants in regards to GNP. The authors tested the synthesis of the substance by using isolates and determine the characteristics of it. Therefore, this paper provides useful data that allows making conclusions about the possibility to synthesise GNP with different properties by using plant latex. Overall, the data presented in the chapters “Isolation and Characterisation of Mastitis Causing Microorganisms” and “Effect of GNPs on the Growth of Isolates” allow making conclusions regarding the biologic aspects of the experiment, while the section “Cytotoxicity of GNPs” displays information about the environmental impact of the synthesis.

The strengths of this research are displayed in its practical application because the authors emphasize a problem that nanoparticles can resolve. More specifically, they provide an explanation of India’s milk industry and various diseases that affect the cattle and can be treated by antimicrobial agents. Other researches, such as a paper by Kim et al. (2007), substantiate this by presenting information that explains the approaches to disease therapy that utilizes GNP. Additionally, the question of the environmentally friendly production of GNP is guiding the researchers. Minor points such as terminology and description of methods are well presented and provide a clear understanding of the topic.

Data and Findings

The implications of this experiment provide an understanding that plant-based milk latex has inferior characteristics when compared to clear substances. The figures and tables that are included in the text lack description. This aspect requires one to reference a specific paragraph for understanding the data. However, they present quantitative data of characteristics measured in the experiment, such as the antimicrobial activity of different latexes or their impact on the growth of E Coli and other bacteria.

From a scientific perspective, the data is well-presented and provides sufficient evidence of the research findings. It is useful because it allows one to choose a latex production method that will be suitable for the production of antimicrobial agents. Although the presentation lacks clear explanations in Figures 1-8, the body of the article provides a clear analysis of each characteristic.

Scientific Interpretation and Novelty

The interpretation of the findings is presented in the “Discussion” paragraph of the article. One shortfall of it is that the authors imply that more research on the topic of clear and milk latex is required to implement the tested approaches. The authors clearly distinguish between the observed information and speculations and provide references to other literature that can support their conclusions.

The conclusions regarding the properties of GNP and their antimicrobial effects are substantiated by more recent studies, for instance works by Shamaila et al. (2016) and Ahmed et al. (2016). Based on this literature the authors determined protein complexes of nanoparticles. Studies by Waage et al. (1999) and Pissuwan et al. (2010) help identify essential bacteria that should be examined, based on which the authors concluded antimicrobial effects.

Methods

In this research, the authors use chemicals, UV-Visible spectroscopy, and FTIR analysis to test the properties of the GNP synthesized in the experiments. According to Navarrete et al. (2018) and Baldock and Hutchison (2016), the approach is viable in identifying the properties of particles. Therefore, the techniques are suitable for generating data regarding specific properties of nanoparticles, such as their environmental effects and antimicrobial impact. The experiment explanations provide sufficient detail about the steps required to repeat the tests, for instance, Human PBMCs and MTT assay is applied to identify cytotoxicity.

Relating to the Literature

The article in question lacks a clear explanation of nanoparticles and their application based on literature. Some of the research is outdated and can be replaced by newer studies, for instance, the work by Gordon and McLeod (1928) and Miller’s (1959) study. This would allow using up-to-date information and approaches. Most articles are previous researches from journals on biotechnology or nanoparticles, which is appropriate.

Conclusion

Overall, the paper in question is a presentation of excellent scientific work that aims to identify specific properties and applications of GNP. The terminology and overall structure are clear, although some figures and tables require additional explanations to avoid referencing the text. The findings provide a clear understanding of the practical application that plant-based GNP can have and present implications for further research.

Reference List

Ahmed, S, Ahmad, M, Swami, BL & Ikram, S 2016, ‘A review on plants extract mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial applications: a green expertise’, Journal of Advanced Research, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 17-28.

Baldock, BL & Hutchison, JE 2016, ‘UV–visible spectroscopy-based quantification of unlabeled DNA bound to gold nanoparticles’, Analytical Chemistry, vol. 88, no. 24, pp. 12072-12080.

Gordon, J & McLeod, JW 1928, ‘The practical application of the direct oxidase reaction in bacteriology’, The Journal of Pathology, vol. 31, pp. 185-190.

Kim, JS, Kuk, E, Yu, KN, Kim, JH, Park, SJ, Lee, HJ, Kim, SH, Park, YK, Park, YH, Huwang, CY, Kim, YK, Lee, YS, Jeong, DH & Cho, MH 2007, ‘Antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles’, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, vol. 3, pp. 95-101.

Miller, GL 1959, ‘Estimation of reducing sugars by DNSA method’, Analytical Chemistry, vol. 31, pp. 426-428.

Navarrete, J, Siefe, C, Alcantar, S, Belt, M, Stucky, GD & Moskovits, M 2018, ‘Merely measuring the UV–visible spectrum of gold nanoparticles can change their charge state’, Nano Letters , vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 669-674.

Pissuwan, D, Cortie, CH, Valenzuela, SM & Cortie, M 2010, ‘Functionalized gold nanoparticles for controlling pathogenic bacteria’, Trends Biotechnology, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 207-213.

Shamaila, S, Zafar, N, Riaz, S, Sharif, R, Nazir, J & Naseem, S 2016, ‘Gold nanoparticles: an efficient antimicrobial agent against enteric bacterial human pathogen’, Nanomaterials, vol. 6, no. 4, p. 71.

Waage, S, Mork, T, Roros, A, Aasland, D, Hunshamar, A & Odegaard, SA 1999 ‘Bacteria associated with clinical mastitis in dairy heifers’, Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 82, pp. 712-719.