Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Dye-degrading Potential of Silver Nanoparticles from Ayapana triplinervis Vahl

Abstract

Background: Over the last decades, silver has been engineered into nanoparticles that attracted much attention and found applications in diverse areas. The small size of the nanoparticles has maximized the total surface area leading to increased activity-to-weight ratio. The present study aims to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the methanolic leaf extract of a medicinal plant Ayapana triplinervis Vahl. and assess their antibacterial and dye-degrading properties. Methods: The AgNPs produced were characterized by using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM and SEM. The dye degradation property of these AgNPs was also evaluated. Result: UV-Vis spectroscopy of prepared silver colloidal solution showed an absorption maximum at 410 nm. The FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of different functional groups which were responsible for the reduction and stabilization of silver ions. The SEM analysis revealed that AgNPs are clustered and exhibit both cubical and spherical shape. TEM analysis helped to investigate the effect of capping agent and precursor concentration on the size and shape of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles synthesized also exhibit antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp. Catalytic degradation of dyes by these silver nanoparticles in the presence of sunlight was in the order Methyl Red (MR) greater than Eosin greater than Methylene Blue (MB).