Biomimetic synthesis of platinum nanoparticles utilizing a terrestrial weed Antigonon leptopus

In this work, we report for the first time a new bio-inspired method for platinum nanoparticle (PtNP) synthesis utilizing a highly invasive terrestrial weed coral vine (Antigonon leptopus) as the main bioagent. Extracts of all three basic components of the plant – leaves, stem and root – were explored and were found to be suitable in effecting the PtNP synthesis. The electron micrographs of the synthesized PtNPs revealed the presence of particles of monodispersed spherical and polydispersed shapes in sizes ranging from 5 to 190 nm. The presence of Pt atoms was confirmed from the energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The FTIR spectral study indicated that the polysaccharides and proteins in the plant extract could have been responsible for the reduction of Pt ions to PtNPs and the latter’s stabilization.