The use of Ficus benjamina L. extract in the synthesis of silver nanoparticle to enhance antimicroorganism activities and toughness of goat leather

Abstract

The skin before being tanned has a drawback that is it is very easy to be attacked by microorganisms. Thus, it is necessary to develop antimicrobial skin through the application of nanoparticles. Antibacterial and antifungal activities, contact angle, and mechanical properties of goat pickle leather after modification with silver nanoparticles and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) by in situ and ex situ method had been conducted. Silver nanoparticles were prepared by using extract of Ficus benjamina L. leaf and characterized using UltraViolet-Visible spectrophotometer and Particle Size Analyzer. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of goat pickle leather was tested using diffusion method through measurement of inhibition zone diameter around the leather sample. The significancy of antimicrobial activities of leather was tested using statistics concept. The mechanical properties of leather were studied using tensile strength tester through measurement of stress, strain, and toughness. The silver nanoparticles had a maximum wavelength absorption at 443 nm with an average particle size of 101.5 nm. Modified leathers with the addition of silver nanoparticles and MTMS through in situ method had the largest contact angle of 93.12°. The leather with the addition of silver nanoparticles by ex situ method had the highest ability to inhibit Escherichia coli. Leather with addition MTMS by in situ method had the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Leather after modification with silver nanoparticle by in situ method had the highest antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The modified goat pickle leather with addition of MTMS by in situ method had the highest toughness. The implication of this study is that the modification of goat leather with superior antibacterial and toughness properties can be obtained by modifying the leather through the addition of MTMS by in situ method, whereas the addition of silver nanoparticles by in situ method can produce the leather with the most superior antifungal properties.