Biofabrication and optimization of silver nanoparticles using Campsis sp. to explore their antimicrobial properties

Abstract

Plant mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) holds promising applications in the field of Biomedicine, Food packaging and Wound healing. In the present investigation, biofabrication of AgNPs was performed using the aqueous extracts of Campsis sp. (Family Bignoniaceae) leaves and flowers growing in the premises of Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi. Optimization of AgNPs was performed to analyse the varying effect of pH (6.0, 8.0, 10.0) and silver salt concentration (2mM, 4Mm and 6Mm) in controlling the shape and size of AgNPs which in turn governs their further applications. Interestingly, change in colour of the reaction mixture from pale yellow to reddish brown indicated the formation of AgNPs. These AgNPs were further characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy and showed peak in the range of 400-450 nm which confirmed the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analysis (DLS-Zeta) confirmed the size of AgNPs around 200-300 nm. A significant zone of inhibition was observed for both Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (gram-negative) bacterial strains which revealed the antimicrobial potential of Campsis sp. AgNPs. Therefore, Campsis AgNPs may provide a green, eco-sustainable alternate method for sustainable production of nanomaterials for biomedical applications. These AgNPs may also show tremendous applications in food packaging, wound healing and biomedical fields.