In this work we present gold (AuNPs) and platinum (PtNPs) nanoparticles prepared by direct sputtering into liquid medium polyethylene glycol (PEG) with molecular weight of 600 g Mol-1. PEG was chosen for its properties and ability to stabilize NPs.
The metal/PEG dispersions were mixed with water for their stabilization. This approach for nanoparticles preparation can be realized without harmful reducing agents or additional stabilizers and resulted in preparation of spherical AuNPs and rod PtNPs of the size below 10 nm.
The D0.9 diameter of AuNPs was 6.3 nm. On contrary, the D0.9 diameter of PtNPs was 3.9 nm.
The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and by dynamic light scattering. In vitro tests of cytotoxicity were carried out with prepared AuNPs and PtNPs and human osteoblastic cells and more cytotoxic effect was observed for AuNPs in comparison with PtNPs of similar concentrations.