PROCESS FOR THE BIOSYNTHESYS OF NANOMETALLIC AND BIMETALLIC NANOPARTICLES OF AU, AG AND CU AND THE POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS THEREOF USING EXTRACT OF CAMELIA SINENSIS AND OPUNTIA INDICA AS A REDUCING AGENT.

摘要

The present invention consists in a process for the synthesis of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles in aqueous solutions of metals such as Au, Ag, Pt and Cu and the combinations thereof Au/Cu, Ag/Pt, Ag/Cu, Pt/Cu, Au/Ag and Au/Pt, from the salts thereof and using Camellia Sinensis and/or Opuntia ficus indica as a reducing agent, at atmospheric pressure and temperature, where the concentration and the reducing capacity of the extract over the metallic ions allow the size and shape of the nanoparticles to be controlled, thereby providing spherical particles of from about 5 mn to about 100 mn, as well as triangles and rollers of from about 1 micron to about 5 microns. Said process also promotes ecological technologies in the synthesis of new materials including an efficient and environmentally friendly process, since it does not use chemical solvents as reaction medium or reducing agent during the synthesis. The nanostructures have a wide range of technological applications, such as: Catalysts, sensors, non-linear optic and in medical applications such as: gene therapy, for releasing drugs, antiseptics and as a contrast agent for biological samples.