Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Plant Based Silver Nanoparticles - A Review

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an exciting and influential world of manufacturing nanoparticles that find varied medicines, bacterial studies, wastewater treatment, and many more applications. This review paper aims to review the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from horticultural sources and evaluate special applications causing a considerable impact on the environment. Conventionally silver nanoparticles are produced by various chemical and physical processes. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles offers alternative methods, where plant extract can be used instead of harmful chemicals. Among various nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles possess unique antibacterial and antiviral properties make them superior to other nanoparticles. The green chemistry approach for synthesizing silver nanomaterials is environmentally friendly, benign, and gaining wide popularity. Enzymes, proteins, phytochemicals, phytochelatin, and vitamins are biomolecules found in plant extracts. In the process of biosynthesis of AgNPs, plant extracts act as good reducing, capping agents.. Biomolecules help reduce and stabilize the process of silver nanoparticles. The biomolecules enhance the yield process of biosynthesis of AGNP. This review highlights a summary of silver nanoparticle biosynthesis and their antibacterial activity. Silver nanoparticles is a multidisciplinary area that has gained focus from researchers of diverse areas from science, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and materials engineering due to their morphologies and composition. Various physical and chemical techniques for synthesis include biological methods, chemical reduction, electron irradiation, gamma irradiation, laser ablation, microwave processing, and photochemical methods. The authors have attempted to compile the reported studies regarding silver nanoparticle synthesis from plants and their specific antibacterial properties. This paper reviews various synthesis techniques from plant materials and medical applications of silver nanoparticles. An attempt is made to present the current state and future silver nanoparticle applications in general and antibacterial treatments in particular.