dc.description.abstract |
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted great attention due to their outstanding
electrical, optical, magnetic, catalytic, and antimicrobial properties. However, there is
a need for alternative production methods that use fewer toxic precursors and reduce
their undesirable by-products. Plant extracts from the leaves of Pennisetum
Purpureum plants can be used as reducing agents as well as enhance AgNPs
antimicrobial activity. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were
synthesized using aqueous leaf extracts of Pennisetum Purpureum. The obtained
AgNPs were studied for their optical, structural, surface morphological and
antimicrobial properties. The prepared AgNPs were characterized by using UVVisible
spectra, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Powder X-ray
diffractometer (PXRD). The synthesized nanoparticles were quasi spherically shaped
and well-dispersed with average sizes ranging from 29.70 ± 9.71nm from SEM
image. The AgNPs derived from Pennisetum Purpureum exhibited antibacterial
activity against seven bacterial (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC
12493), E. coli (NCTC 12241), S. mutants (ATCC 700610), P. aeruginosa (ATCC
4853), S. typhi (ATCC 14028), K. pneumonia (NCTC13440) and, B. subtilis (ATCC
10004)) and one fungal (Candida albicans (ATCC 90028)) pathogens of the human
compared to the crude extracts. This indicates that the biomolecules covering the
nanoparticles may enhance the biological activity of metal nanoparticles. Hence, our
results support that synthesis of AgNPs using Pennisetum Purpureum leaf extract
constitutes a potential area of interest for the therapeutic management of microbial
diseases. These observation on nanoparticle production using plant-mediated
synthesis and performance offers insights into the potential for scaling up this
production process for economic commercial implementation. |
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