Abstract: A method for forming encapsulated gold nanoparticles mixes mangiferin into a liquid medium to form a reducing agent solution. Gold salts are mixed into the reducing agent solution. Reaction of the gold salts is permitted, in the absence of any other reducing agent, to form a nanoparticle solution of stabilized, biocompatible gold nanoparticles coated with mangiferin. The gold salts can consist of AuCl4, or can consist of radioactive gold salts. A cancer therapy method injects a solution of mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles directly into a solid tumor. A solution consisting of an aqueous or alcoholic medium and mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles is provided. The mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles can have core sizes of ˜5-20 nm and total sizes of ˜20-120 nm.

Abstract: A method for forming encapsulated gold nanoparticles mixes mangiferin into a liquid medium to form a reducing agent solution. Gold salts are mixed into the reducing agent solution. Reaction of the gold salts is permitted, in the absence of any other reducing agent, to form a nanoparticle solution of stabilized, biocompatible gold nanoparticles coated with mangiferin. The gold salts can consist of AuCl4, or can consist of radioactive gold salts. A cancer therapy method injects a solution of mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles directly into a solid tumor. A solution consisting of an aqueous or alcoholic medium and mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles is provided. The mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles can have core sizes of ˜5-20 nm and total sizes of ˜20-120 nm.

Abstract: An example embodiment of a method for making gold nanoparticles includes steps of reacting a gold salt with a phosphino amino acid. Example phosphino amino acids include trimers, with a particular example being a trimeric amino acid conjugate containing one phosphino group. In an example method of the invention, the gold nanoparticles may be produced in timer periods of less than about 3 minutes, and at temperatures of less than about 30° C. Other methods of the invention are directed to methods for stabilizing gold nanoparticles, and to methods for making gold nanochains.