Human hair as a nanoreactor in the synthesis of gold (and other) nanoparticles

pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nl303107w/suppl_file/nl303107w_si_001.pdf

ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: January 02, 2013

First synthesis of gold nanoparticles inside human hair for dyeing and much more

“Hair Fiber as a Nanoreactor in Controlled Synthesis of Fluorescent Gold Nanoparticles”
Nano Letters

In a discovery with applications ranging from hair dyeing to electronic sensors to development of materials with improved properties, scientists are reporting the first synthesis of gold nanoparticles inside human hairs. Their study appears in ACS’ journal Nano Letters.

Philippe Walter and colleagues explain that gold nanoparticles — 40,000-60,000 of which could fit across the width of a human hair — are a hot topic. Scientists are exploring uses, ranging from electronics and sensors to medical diagnostic tests and cancer treatments. Gold nanoparticles have been deposited on hair for use as electrodes, and gold nanoparticles had been used to dye wool. Walter’s team looked at a new use — dyeing hair, inspired by the ancient Greeks’ and Romans’ use of another metal, lead, to color their hair.

They describe the first synthesis of fluorescent gold nanoparticles inside human hair. It involved soaking white hairs in a solution of a gold compound. The hairs turned pale yellow and then darkened to a deep brown. Using an electron microscope, the scientists confirmed that the particles were forming inside the hairs’ central core cortex. The color remained even after repeated washings.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

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Gold nanoparticles darken hair after treatment
for one day, center, and 16 days, right
(untreated hairs, left).

Hair Fiber as a Nanoreactor in Controlled Synthesis of Fluorescent Gold Nanoparticles

• Shrutisagar D. Haveli^†‡
• Philippe Walter^*‡
• Gilles Patriarche^§
• Jeanne Ayache^∥
• Jacques Castaing^‡
• Elsa Van Elslande^‡
• Georges Tsoucaris^‡
• Ping-An Wang^†‡
• Henri B. Kagan^†

View Author Information

Cite This:Nano Lett.201212126212-6217

Publication Date:November 2, 2012

https://doi.org/10.1021/nl303107w

Copyright © 2012 American Chemical Society

Supporting Info (1)»Supporting Information

Abstract

The synthesis and detailed characterization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) inside human hair has been achieved by treatment of hair with HAuCl₄ in alkaline medium. The AuNPs, which show a strong red fluorescence under blue light, are generated inside the fiber and are arranged in the cortex in a remarkably regular pattern of whorls based on concentric circles, like a fingerprint. It opens an area of genuine nanocomposites with novel properties due to AuNPs inside the hair shaft.

(Timothy’s note: I do not have credentials for access to the entire paper but only this abstract

This article is from 2012

8 years ago

one can only imagine the level of technology at present!)