Abstract
There is increased attention paid to metallic nanoparticles due to their intensive use in various branches of agriculture and biotechnology, such as pest management, nanosensors, gene delivery, seed treatment, etc. There has been growing interest in applying environmentally friendly strategies for synthesizing nanoparticles without using substances which are hazardous to the environment. Biological practices for the synthesis of nanoparticles have been considered as possible ecofriendly alternatives to chemical synthesis. In the present study, we used biogenic silver and copper nanoparticles which were prepared by a previously reported green method. Moreover, the problem of chemical residues, which usually remain along with chemically synthesized nanoparticles and limit their application, was solved by developing such a green synthesis approach. To study the antibacterial activity of silver and copper nanoparticles, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used; for the evaluation of antifungal activity, the pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea, Pilidium concavum and Pestalotia sp. were applied. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first time that the antifungal impact of a nanoparticle has been tested on Pilidium concavum and Pestalotia sp. Silver nanoparticles were found to be the more effective antimicrobial agent against all examined pathogens in comparison to copper nanoparticles. Data from such investigations provide valuable preliminary data on silver nanoparticle-based compounds or composites for use in the management of different pathogens.
Highlights
Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs), especially silver NPs, have been a focus of interest due to their remarkable properties and applications in different fields, such as medicine, optoelectronics, catalysis, chemical sensing, cosmetics, and, primarily, in the health industry as antimicrobial agents [1,2]
In vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of microorganisms and the antimicrobial activity of biosynthesized NPs on P. aeruginosa bacteria
There is no significant difference between the average size of the Ag NPs reported by Punjabi et al [24] and our biosynthesized Ag NPs; the great difference in antibacterial activity may arise from the non-spherical shape and polydispersity of their Ag NPs
Summary
Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs), especially silver NPs, have been a focus of interest due to their remarkable properties and applications in different fields, such as medicine, optoelectronics, catalysis, chemical sensing, cosmetics, and, primarily, in the health industry as antimicrobial agents [1,2]. A great effort has been made for the development of safe management strategies for bacterial and fungal diseases that pose less danger to human and animals. When developing these strategies, there has been significant focus on overcoming the problems associated with using conventional bactericides or fungicides, which include new bacterial mutations, drug resistance to antibiotics, outbreaks of pathogenic strains, etc. As a result of their effectiveness on resistant strains of microbial pathogens, Ag and Cu NPs are currently among the most powerful alternatives to conventional antimicrobial agents and are used in bandages, wound healing ointments or creams, biomedical and surgical devices as disinfectants, textile coatings, and food packaging and storage [1,7]. There is significant demand to develop new antimicrobial agents to overcome the problems of conventional antimicrobial materials, such as microbial resistance, environmental pollution, and so on
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
