Light scattering from aqueous solutions of colloid metal nanoparticles stabilized by natural polysaccharide arabinogalactan.

Colloids of metal nanoparticles (NPs) of Au, Ag, Pd, and Pt protected by natural polymer arabinogalactan (ARB) extracted from Larix sibirica were studied. The nanocomposites were prepared by reduction of metal salts in the water solutions of ARB. We carried out dynamic (DLS) and static light scattering resonantly enhanced by the NP plasmons. The translational diffusion was examined via DLS and a polarized interferometer. The virgin ARB was shown to form aggregates in dilute aqueous solutions. The introduction of NPs reduced the size of the virgin ARB aggregates. The aggregate forms as viewed by the scanning electron microscopy support the light scattering results.