Comparative Analysis Of Antibacterial And Antifungal Activity Of AgNPs With Conjugated Curcumin AgNPs

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are potent antimicrobial agents, extensively used against a wide variety of microorganisms. Several techniques have been developed to chemically synthesize silver nanoparticles but limited their application due to their cytotoxicity and safety concerns for humans and the environment. The current study summarized the preparation of silver nanoparticles from a reaction of silver nitrate with grapefruit extract and to compare the antimicrobial activities of AgNPs and Cur-AgNPs. A natural phenolic compound having mild antimicrobial potential, curcumin was conjugated with initially synthesized silver nanoparticles (Cur-AgNPs) and characterization was performed before and after conjugation by using UV-visible spectrophotometer and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The antimicrobial activity of both AgNPs and Cur-AgNPs was assessed against microbial species including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The obtained results led to the conclusion that Cur-AgNPs have more antibacterial and antifungal activity than silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The antibacterial potential of AgNPs and Cur-AgNPs was evaluated by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition in cm. The maximum zone of inhibition measured while using conjugated Cur-AgNPs at a concentration of 0.4mg/uL was 2cm, 1.9cm and 2.2cm against fungus, E.coli and P.aeruginosa respectively. The conjugation of curcumin to silver nanoparticles devised a new biocidal agent and lifted the industrial biomedical application of silver nanoparticles with less toxicity towards the ecosystem.