Fmoc‐Appended Redox Active Aromatic Amino Acids Capped Nanoparticles Embodied Sustainable Antibacterial Catalytic Hydrogels for the Production of Value‐Added Chemical

Abstract In this study, the hydrogelations of Fmoc‐Tyr‐OH ( Fmoc‐Y ) and Fmoc‐Trp‐OH ( Fmoc‐W ) have been investigated in 50 m m phosphate buffer (saline) of pH 7.4. Gold and silver nanoparticles have been synthesized in situ within these hydrogels under physiological conditions without using any toxic reducing agents to achieve hybrid hydrogels formation successfully. The nanoparticles formation kinetics have been monitored through UV‐vis spectroscopy. Native and hybrid hydrogels have been characterized by using UV‐vis, fluorescence, FTIR, XRD, FE‐SEM, and HR‐TEM analyses. Rheological measurements revealed their mechanical strength and thixotropic behaviour. Moreover, both native and hybrid hydrogels show potent antibacterial activities against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Interestingly, these as‐synthesized gold nanoparticles containing hybrid hydrogels and their xerogels exhibited excellent catalytic activities for the reduction of p ‐nitrophenol ( p ‐ N P ) to p ‐aminophenol ( p ‐AP ), monitored through time‐dependent UV‐vis spectroscopy. These catalysts retained their activities over multiple cycles, highlighting their reusability and stability. To the best of our literature knowledge, this is a green, sustainable, fastest, economical and effective reduction reaction of hazardous p ‐NP using amino acids‐stabilized gold nanoparticles containing xerogels in water ever reported to produce value‐added chemical precursor p ‐AP for the syntheses of various drug molecules. This is a minimalistic approach to device biomaterials‐based advanced sustainable system for environmental remediation and value‐added chemical production.