Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Crinum macowanii bulb extracts and the application of these materials in blood detections at crime scenes

We here in report the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a Crinum macowanii bulb water extract. The as-synthesized AuNPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and a zeta potential-sizer. The results showed that the as-synthesized AuNPs were crystalline and mostly spherical in shape with a small mixture of triangular, tetrahedral, hexagonal, octagonal, and diamond shapes. The as-synthesized AuNPs together with those synthesized by conventional methods were subsequently used as enhancers for the luminol signal in blood detection. It was noted that the AuNPs synthesized from the Crinum macowanii bulb water extract could enhance the chemiluminescence signal for blood detection by luminol to the same extent as AuNPs prepared by conventional methods. Furthermore, both types of AuNPs served as fluorescence enhancers for blood detection when luminol was replaced with the bulb water extract.