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A simple and novel method of synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles from their salt solutions by amino acid reduction in the presence of β-Cyclodextrin as capping and stabilizing agent has been successfully carried out. Characterization is done by UV spectroscopy and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Micrograph (HRTEM) imaging. The size of the nanomaterials is found to lie in the range 5–100 nm. The aqueous solutions of metal nanomaterials are stable for months, indicating the encapsulation of them in the nanocavity of β-Cyclodextrin. This report is new and novel as it is a combination of nanoscience with Supramolecular Chemistry. Cyclodextrin-capped metal nanoparticles will exhibit selectivity in properties derived from host–guest phenomena on their surfaces and are novel nanocatalysts for catalytic organic reactions in aqueous solution. Cyclodextrins are found to be very effective and eco-friendly alternatives to surfactants and polymer matrices as stabilizers.
P. Gopalan (Fri,) studied this question.