Mycosynthesis of Size-Controlled Silver Nanoparticles through Optimization of Process Variables by Response Surface Methodology.

The present study was carried out to reduce the size of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by optimizing physico-chemical conditions of the Aspergillus fumigatus BTCB10 growth based on central composite design (CCD) through response surface methodology (RSM). Variables such as a concentration of silver nitrate (mM), NaCl (%) and the wet weight of biomass (g) were controlled to produce spherical, monodispersed particles of 33.23 nm size, observing 78.7% reduction in size as compared to the initially obtained size that was equal to 356 nm. The obtained AgNPs exhibited negative zeta potential of -9.91 mV with a peak at 420 nm in the UV-Vis range whereas Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis identified O-H, C = C, C ≡ C, C-Br and C-Cl groups attached as capping agents. After conducting RSM experiments, a high nitrate reductase activity value of 179.15 nmol/h/ml was obtained; thus indicating a likely correlation between enzyme production and AgNPs synthesis. The F-value (significant at 3.91), non-significant lack of fit and determination coefficient (R2 = 0.7786) is representative of the good relation between the predicted values of response. We conclude that CCD is an effective tool in obtaining significant results of high quality and efficiency. The present study was carried out to reduce the size of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by optimizing physico-chemical conditions of the Aspergillus fumigatus BTCB10 growth based on central composite design (CCD) through response surface methodology (RSM). Variables such as a concentration of silver nitrate (mM), NaCl (%) and the wet weight of biomass (g) were controlled to produce spherical, monodispersed particles of 33.23 nm size, observing 78.7% reduction in size as compared to the initially obtained size that was equal to 356 nm. The obtained AgNPs exhibited negative zeta potential of –9.91 mV with a peak at 420 nm in the UV-Vis range whereas Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis identified O–H, C = C, C ≡ C, C–Br and C–Cl groups attached as capping agents. After conducting RSM experiments, a high nitrate reductase activity value of 179.15 nmol/h/ml was obtained; thus indicating a likely correlation between enzyme production and AgNPs synthesis. The F-value (significant at 3.91), non-significant lack of fit and determination coefficient (R2 = 0.7786) is representative of the good relation between the predicted values of response. We conclude that CCD is an effective tool in obtaining significant results of high quality and efficiency.