Silver Nanoparticles: One Pot Green Synthesis Using Terminalia arjuna Extract for Biological Application

Abstract

Among all the nanoparticles synthesized; silver nanoparticles have attained special place in the area of nano technology because of their antimicrobial and biomedical applications. In general; their syntheses involves the use of hazardous chemicals or costly physical methods. However, the biological processes are making their ways in between and proving their advantages over them. The use of plants and their extracts is one of the most valuable methods which are gaining concerns due to their imperative biological benefits. Plants are not only beautiful but majestic because they are rich sources of various medicinally important substances. They explore the huge diversity which can be utilized towards rapid and single step protocol preparatory method for various nanoparticles keeping intact " the green principles " over the conventional ones and proving their dominance for medicinal importance. Here, in the presented work " one pot synthesis of silver nanoparticles " is described. Silver nanoparticles have world-wide desirability due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties in particular to antimicrobial activities plus being non-toxic and environmentally safe. Therefore; a simple, cost effective bio-reduction on the principle of " green synthesis " of silver nanoparticles using the Terminalia arjuna plant extract is reported. The beauty of the synthesis is: no involvement of any surfactant, catalyst or template. The aqueous silver ions are reduced to silver nanoparticles when exposed to leaves extract. The bio-reduction and stabilization of so formed silver nanoparticles was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were also characterized by various other techniques viz. FTIR spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and TEM. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that silver nanoparticles that are functionalized with bio-molecules that are present in the natural aqueous extract are themselves acting as the capping agents and stabilizing the nanoparticles. Biological evaluations of silver nanoparticles were also done against gram positive (S. aureus) and gram negative bacteria (E. coli) for their future applications in biomedicines especially for the treatment of wounds.