Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Pandanus tectorius aerial root extract: Characterization, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and photocatalytic properties, and ecotoxicological assessment

Abstract

Nanotechnology, a rapidly developing field of research, has several applications in various disciplines of applied science. The eco-friendly synthesis method presented here provides a sustainable alternative to traditional methods that frequently rely on harmful chemicals. Following the synthesis, the antibacterial and anti-cancer properties of the nanoparticles produced through this environmentally-friendly. In the present study, the reducing agents for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were aqueous extracts of the aerial root of Pandanus tectorius. The green synthesized Ag nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis, FTIR, XRD, and SEM, as well as EDX analysis. Artemia nauplii larvae were used to test the nanoparticles’ eco-toxicity, cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, and antibacterial activity using the well diffusion assay. The synthesized Ag-NPs exhibited maximum absorbance in the visible band at 415 nm. In the XRD spectrum of crystalline Ag-NPs, four prominent peaks with 2θ values of 38.12°, 54.14°, 64.18°, and 77.48° are observed. These peaks correspond to the crystallographic planes 111, 200, 220, and 311, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles SEM-TEM image revealed a spherical shape. EDX spectral peak was found at 3.0 keV. Maximum growth inhibitory activity was noticed against P. aeruginosa (14 mm) through determining the zones of inhibition on disc diffusion method. The studied bacterial strains have demonstrated effective inhibition by these Ag-NPs. In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of Ag-NPs exhibited an IC50 value of 47.58 μg/mL against HeLa cancer cells. Methylene blue (MB) dye degradation under solar radiation was investigated for its photocatalytic properties. The findings demonstrated that after 120 min in the light, MB deteriorated by 82.6 %. Overall, the results of this investigation suggest that Ag-NPs biosynthesized by P. tectorius may have photocatalytic, antibacterial and anticancer properties.