Abstract
Due to their low cost and environmentally friendly nature, plant extracts based methods have gained significant popularity among researchers for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. Herein, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles was performed using the aqueous solution of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves extract (ZM-LE) as a bio-reducing agent. The as-obtained silver nanoparticles were characterized by using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD (X-ray diffraction), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy). In addition, the effects of the concentrations of the leaves extract, silver nitrate, and the temperature on the preparation of nanoparticles were also investigated. In order to determine the nature of secondary metabolites present in leaves extract, a preliminary investigation of phytoconstituents was carried out using different methods including Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 methods. The results have indicated the presence of a considerable amount of phenolic and flavonoid contents in the leaves extract, which are believed to be responsible for the reduction of silver ions and stabilization of resulting nanoparticles. Indeed, the FT-IR spectrum of silver nanoparticles also confirmed the presence of residual phytomolecules of leaves extract as stabilizing ligands on the surface of nanoparticles. The antibacterial properties of as-obtained silver nanoparticles were tested against various bacterial strains including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis. The nanoparticles strongly inhibited the growth of S. aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.5 μg/ml and moderately inhibited the growth of E. coli with a MIC of 5 μg/ml.
Highlights
Synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) is an area of active research as a result of their advance and fascinating accomplishments in several fields, including biomedical and engineering [1,2]
The as-prepared ZM-AgNPs were identified by using UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Afterwards, 100 μL of E. coli and S. aureus bacterial concentration was inoculated into plates containing Muller Hilton Agar and different concentrations of biosynthesized AgNPs i.e., ZM-AgNPs (0, 2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL, and control) suspension was added on plates
Summary
Synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) is an area of active research as a result of their advance and fascinating accomplishments in several fields, including biomedical and engineering [1,2]. [3] Among various metallic NPs, silver (Ag) NPs have been widely applied for various biomedical purposes due to their remarkable biological properties [4,5,6]. The size and shape of NPs plays a crucial role in enhancing the properties of Ag NPs. Generally, homogeneously dispersed, smaller size, and spherical-shaped Ag NPs are more effective in biological applications, compared to other morphologies of Ag NPs [10]. Homogeneously dispersed, smaller size, and spherical-shaped Ag NPs are more effective in biological applications, compared to other morphologies of Ag NPs [10] Considering their vast biological applications, economical accessibility, and biocompatibility of Ag NPs is utmost important [11]. The antibacterial activity of phytomolecules functionalized ZM-AgNPs were tested
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