Abstract
Biosynthesis of plant-mediated silver nanoparticles is gaining significant importance due to environmentally safe ‘green method’ and it is an efficient alternative method. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra an important medicinal plant. The AgNPs are characterized by spectral analysis; the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of AgNPs showed maximum absorption at 445 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) data show that the O–H hydroxyl groups, carboxylic acids, ester and ether groups and C–O stretching of alcohols have been utilized in the formation of AgNPs. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data reveal that the AgNPs are face-centered cubic (fcc) in structure. The size was determined by particle size analyzer and atomic force microscope (AFM); the results reveal that AgNPs were spherical in shape and the average grain size is determined as 41.5–46.5 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs obtained show that AgNPs were roughly spherical and well dispersed with the sizes ranging from 10 to 45 nm ± 5 nm. The biofabricated AgNPs are extremely stable due to its high negative zeta potential −34.1 mV which indicates that the nanoparticles are polydispered in nature. The cytotoxic studies of AgNPs on human CD34 +ve stem cells in microcarrier culture reveal excellent growth at different concentrations of biosynthesized AgNPs. This is the first report of microcarrier culture of CD34 +ve stem cells on biosynthesized AgNPs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13205-016-0532-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
In modern research, nanotechnology is the current area of materials science
The size was determined by particle size analyzer and atomic force microscope (AFM); the results reveal that AgNPs were spherical in shape and the average grain size is determined as 41.5–46.5 nm
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice), the most important approved herb after ginseng in China, is used for ailments related to spleen, liver and kidney, and the Japanese use the herb as an antiviral agent
Summary
Nanotechnology is the current area of materials science. Green synthesis of nanomaterials is gaining importance. The application of silver nanoparticles has a wide range, which gives scope for further research in the field of fabrication of silver nanoparticles and their compounds of ionic silver (Willner et al 2006; Lou et al 2006). Some of the very important applications of silver nanomaterials include antimicrobial properties, surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect and catalytic activity (Li et al 2006; Chen et al 2005). Silver nanoparticles have potential applications as intercalation material in batteries, as coatings in solar energy, in optical receptors, in bio-labeling, and as efficient biocatalysts in chemical reactions (Klaus-Joerger et al 2001; Schultz et al 2000; Hayat 1989).
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