Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using Ulva lactuca as a safe synthetic pesticide (in vitro)

Abstract

In this era, we must synthesize safe pesticides from inexpensive sources to avoid the diseases caused by most of the previously used pesticides. Therefore, nanotechnology was used to produce biologically synthesis pesticides from very cheap sources such as seaweed, especially green algae, as it is safe to synthesize a pesticide against various pests such as bacteria and fungi that affect various agricultural crops. Ulva lactuca is used for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by a bottom-up bioreduction reaction of silver nitrate to silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) observed by the formation of brown color. The biosynthesis reaction has been proven by using UV-VIS, FT-IR, EDAX, SEM, TEM, and DSC-TGA and has been tested against a wide range of bacteria and fungi that affect plants, poultry, fish, rabbits, animals, and humans. Antioxidant activity was also determined. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have proven to be good and safe synthetic pesticides. The results of the spectroscopy demonstrated the success of the biological synthesis of the pesticide. Also, the results of the antimicrobial activity demonstrated the success of the pesticide that was biologically synthesized to fight bacteria and fungi that cause different diseases of different agricultural crops and should be used as a safe synthetic pesticide.