Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles: are they effective antimicrobials?

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2017-08, Vol.112 (8), p.537-543
• Main Authors: Peiris, Mudara K, Gunasekara, Chinthika P, Jayaweera, Pradeep M, Arachchi, Nuwan Dh, Fernando, Neluka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - biosynthesis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antimicrobial activity; Colony Count, Microbial - methods; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Negative Bacteria - ultrastructure; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - ultrastructure; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; PARASITOLOGY; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - metabolism; Silver - metabolism; Silver - pharmacology; silver nanoparticles; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; TROPICAL MEDICINE
• ISSN: 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760170023

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly being used in medical applications. Therefore, cost effective and green methods for generating AgNPs are required. This study aimed towards the biosynthesis, characterisation, and determination of antimicrobial activity of AgNPs produced using Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Culture conditions (AgNO3 concentration, pH, and incubation temperature and time) were optimized to achieve maximum AgNP production. The characterisation of AgNPs and their stability were evaluated by UV-visible spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopy. The characteristic UV-visible absorbance peak was observed in the 420-430 nm range. Most of the particles were spherical in shape within a size range of 33-300 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited higher stability than that exhibited by chemically synthesized AgNPs in the presence of electrolytes. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Candida albicans. As compared to the tested Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria required higher contact time to achieve 100% reduction of colony forming units when treated with biosynthesized AgNPs produced using P. aeruginosa.