Abstract
The current study reports the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Capparis spinosa leaf extract acting as a capping and reducing agent. The characterization of AgNPs was confirmed using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Visible), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The plant extract used reduces Ag+ into AgNPs within a few minutes as indicated by the changed color, from yellow to reddish-brown. The UV-vis spectrum of AgNPs appeared a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 400-450 nm. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the role of plant extract as a reducing and capping agent of silver ions. The spectra of FTIR revealed a broad transmission peaks from 3412 to 617 cm-1. An EDX analysis signal at 3 keV and weight 65.38% showed the peak to be in the silver region, a fact which was confirmed by the presence of elemental silver. Under TEM, the nanoparticles were seen to be spherical, with an average particle size of 13 nm. AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against S.epidermidis, S. aureus, MRSA and E. coli. The inhibition zones for S.epidermidis and S. aureus were 8 to 10 mm, while MRSA is 7 to 10 mm. The inhibition zone of E. coli was higher at 10 to 13 mm.
Highlights
In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as an important research area due to its application in electrical engineering, molecular diagnostics, drug delivery, medicine, electronics and optics, amongst others
Ten milliliters of the aqueous plant extract were added to 100 mL silver nitrate with constant stirring at 25°C until the color changed to dark brown
Visual observations The synthesis of AgNPs was indicated by the color change when mixing the solution; after two hours of incubation, the color of the reaction mixture changed to a light yellow to reddish brown
Summary
Nanotechnology has emerged as an important research area due to its application in electrical engineering, molecular diagnostics, drug delivery, medicine, electronics and optics, amongst others. Nano-size enhances the surface-to volume ratio and the particles exhibit chemical, physical and biological properties which often differ markedly from the original bulk material [2]. AgNPs have been used in the field of nanotechnology because of their distinct properties, including strong conductivity, chemically stability, catalytic activity, anti-cancer activity and antibacterial and antifungal activity [3-9]. Due of their unique properties, AgNPs are widely used in several applications, including medicinal, agriculture, health care, consumer, diagnostics, optical sensors and technological purposes [10-14]. Silver has interesting material properties and is a natural resource that is cheap and abundant [15]. AgNPs have been found to exhibit antimicrobial activity, presumably by releasing ionic silver which inactivate thiol groups leading to a) the denaturation of bacterial enzymes, b) the disruption of cellular cytoplasm, c) the inhibition of bacterial DNA replication and to a decrease in ATP levels and cell-death [16]
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