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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis
Published on: July 10, 2021
Synthesis of arbutin-gold nanoparticle complexes and their enhanced performance for whitening
Jin Ju Park1, Su Jung Hwang1, Yu Sun Kang1
1College of Pharmacy and Inje Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Inje University, 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae, Gyungnam, 50834, South Korea.
Abstract:
Arbutin, a natural polyphenol, possesses numerous biological activities including whitening, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory activities, as well as strong reducing power, making it an ideal bioactive ingredient for preparing gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Previously, we developed a novel green, mild synthetic method for GNPs using glycosides such as arbutin as reducing agents and stabilizers. Herein, we optimized the synthetic method for glycoside-GNPs using arbutin, methyl β-D-glucoside, and phenyl β-D-glucoside and validated their whitening efficacy in vitro and in vivo. The resulting glycoside-GNPs were predominantly mono-dispersed and spherical (10.30-17.13 nm diameter). Compared with arbutin itself, arbutin-GNP complexes (GNP-A1 and GNP-P2) displayed enhanced whitening capabilities. Furthermore, GNP-P2 exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory activity and lacked the toxicity associated with arbutin. Bioactive glycoside-GNP complexes may open new directions for cosmeceuticals, and GNP-P2 may serve as a useful whitening ingredient in future cosmeceutical applications.
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