Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity

The synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles is an expanding research area due to the potential applications for the development of novel technologies. In this work, we describe a cost effective and environment friendly technique for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and evaluate their antibacterial activity from silver nitrate solution through the extract of Zingiber officinale rhizome as a reducing as well as a capping agent. The growth of nanoparticles was monitored by UV-vis spectrophotometer and complemented with characterization using Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed the presence of mono-dispersed silver nanoparticles with an average size of 3.1 nm. X-ray diffraction studies corroborated that the biosynthesized nanoparticles were crystalline silver. Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy analysis showed that the synthesized nano- silver were capped with bimolecular compounds which were responsible for the reduction of silver ions. The antibacterial effect of these nanoparticles were studied against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This study indicated that silver nanoparticles posses considerable antibacterial activity in comparison with standard antibacterial agents, and hence further investigation or clinical applications is necessary.