Green synthesis of stable and biocompatible silver nanoparticles with natural flavonoid apigenin

Abstract

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles has been carried out, controlling the size and using only apigenin as a reducing and coating agent. Unlike citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles, the apigenin-coated nanoparticles are very stable in physiological environments. This unique stability is a result of a thick polyphenolic coating on the surface of the particles, which has been observed by electron microscopy. Based on Raman scattering, the phenolic coating originates from apigenin. Hemolysis induced by nanoparticles is less than 1% up to a concentration of 64 μg/ml and less than 5% up to a concentration of 128 μg/ml. These particles do not cause significant toxicity in human dermal fibroblast cells up to a concentration of 256 μg/ml. In the evaluation of the antioxidant properties of particles, it was found that they have antioxidant behavior up to a concentration of 32 μg/ml and pro-oxidant behavior at higher concentrations. Considering the biocompatibility of these nanoparticles, many biomedical applications can be considered for them.