Utilization of biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain LTR1 for the synthesis of the silver nanoparticles and their application as antimicrobial agents

Abstract

The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit properties like non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and broad antimicrobial activity. The present study focused on the use of a biochemical method to synthesize the AgNPs using biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain LTR1 inoculated in 2% soybean oil. A reverse micelle approach was used for obtaining microemulsions of biosurfactant-based aqueous AgNO3 and sodium borohydride. The mixture of such microemulsions yielded a solution of AgNPs. UV-visible spectrophotometer was utilized for the determination of signature spectra of nanoparticles, here AgNPs showing absorption at 435 nm. X-ray crystallography and scanning electron microscopy determined the size of nanoparticles to be in the range of 34.53 to 36.13 nm. The biosurfactant-based AgNPs were assessed for antimicrobial activity against pathogens like Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans.