Functionalized silver nanoparticles synthesized from marine algae: In vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial Potential

Abstract

Natural antioxidants, in particular phenolic derivatives, are used efficiently to combat against oxidative induced tissue damages. The objective of the study is to determine the antioxidant potential of methanolic extracts obtained from eight marine algal species (Enteromorpha compressa, Chaetomorpha antennina, Caulerpa racemosa, Caulerpa taxifolia, Sargassum vulgare, Padina tetrastromatica, Amphiroa fragilissima and Gracilaria corticata) by assessing their total phenolic content, DPPH scavenging assay, FRAP assay, H2O2 radical and superoxide radical scavenging activities. Among them, P.tetrastromatica, S.vulgare, E.compressa, C.taxifolia display significant antioxidant activities. Further, the aqueous extracts of these four algae are used for bioreduction of silver nitrate to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by green synthesis method at room temperature. UV-Visible spectrum revealed the surface plasmon resonance at 430 and 440nm. The characterizations of AgNPs by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed the bioreduction and capping of AgNPs. XRD analysis elucidated the synthesized nanoparticles having face centered cubic crystalline geometry, with a mean size of 17 nm. The nanoparticles have better antimicrobial activity against cocci shaped than the rod shaped bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration exhibit more activity against S.aureus and B.cereus rather than E.coli.