Corylus avellana leaf extract-mediated green synthesis of antifungal silver nanoparticles using microwave irradiation and assessment of their properties

Mahsa Eshghi,Yahya Najian,Omid Ahmadi,Hamideh Vaghari,Hoda Jafarizadeh-Malmiri,Asa Kamali-Shojaei,Zahra Mohebian

doi:10.1515/gps-2021-0062

Abstract

Abstract Due to high antimicrobial activity against numerous microorganisms, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being utilized in various areas. Microwave-accelerated AgNPs synthesis using Corylus avellana leaf extract was evaluated. Based on randomly central composite design, 13 mixture solutions containing different amounts of the prepared extract (0.10–0.90 mL) and 1 mM silver nitrate solution (15–25 mL) were prepared and exposed to microwave irradiation for 180 s. Response surface methodology was utilized to evaluate the effects of the two independent variables on particle size and concentration of the synthesized AgNPs, as manifested in the place of broad emission peak (λ max) and its absorbance unit, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that the two hydroxyl and carboxylic acid functional groups with reducing activity existed in the prepared extract. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that the formed spherical AgNPs using optimum amounts of C. avellana leaf extract (0.9 mL) and 1 mM silver nitrate solution (25 mL) had minimum particle size (103.5 nm) and polydispersity index (PDI) (0.209), and maximum concentration (140 ppm) and zeta potential (−21.8 mV). Results indicated that the formed AgNPs had high fungicidal effects against the spoiled fungi of Colletotrichum coccodes and Penicillium digitatum.

Highlights

Among the various noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), silver NPs (AgNPs) have attracted distinct attention and application in numerous industries and fields due to their unique properties, especially, their strong antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi strains [1,2,3]
Green synthesis methods in the fabrication of metal and metal oxide NPs have several advantages compared to the synthesis techniques based on physico-chemical approaches
This indicated that the C. avellana leaf extract successfully reduced silver ions and formed AgNPs

Summary

Introduction

Among the various noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), silver NPs (AgNPs) have attracted distinct attention and application in numerous industries and fields due to their unique properties, especially, their strong antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi strains [1,2,3]. Due to the high surface-tovolume ratio of the AgNPs, these NPs can get attached to the microorganism’s membrane and by releasing silver ions can change the membrane permeability and respiratory enzymes’ activities, and cause cell death [4,5]. Green synthesis methods in the fabrication of metal and metal oxide NPs have several advantages compared to the synthesis techniques based on physico-chemical approaches. Green or biological synthesis methods are intensified and clean, and ions reduction, NPs’ formation, and their stabilization are completed in a one-step process using bioactive compounds. In green metal NPs synthesis approach, many natural biomolecules of plants and their derivatives (i.e., steam, root, leaf, and flower) such as proteins/enzymes, amino acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, phenolic, alcoholic

Methods

Results

Conclusion