Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Significant Antimicrobial Activity for Sustainable Applications

Ramona Plesnicute, Cristina Rimbu, Lăcrămioara Oprica (), Daniel Herea, Iuliana Motrescu, Delia Luca, Dorina Creanga and Marius-Nicusor Grigore
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Ramona Plesnicute: Physics Faculty, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Cristina Rimbu: Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania
Lăcrămioara Oprica: Biology Faculty, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Daniel Herea: National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Iuliana Motrescu: Horticulture Faculty, Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Live Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania
Delia Luca: Biology Faculty, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Dorina Creanga: Physics Faculty, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Marius-Nicusor Grigore: Doctoral School of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-28

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles, with various uses in pharmacy, cosmetics, sanitation, textiles, optoelectronics, photovoltaics, etc., that are provided by worldwide industrial production, estimated to hundreds of tons annually, are finally released in the environment impacting randomly the biosphere. An alternative synthesis approach could be implemented by replacing chemical reductants of silver with natural antioxidants ensuring production and utilization sustainability with focus on environmental pollution diminishing. We synthesized silver nanoparticles by using plant extracts, aiming to offer antimicrobial products with reduced impact on the environment through sustainable green-chemistry. Fresh extracts of lemon pulp, blueberry and blackberry fruits as well as of green tea dry leaves were the sources of the natural antioxidants able to ensure ionic silver reduction and silver nanoparticle formation in the form of colloidal suspensions. The four samples were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, dark field optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, dynamic light scattering, which evidenced specific fine granularity, plasmonic features, standard crystallinity, and good stability in water suspension. Antimicrobial activity was assayed using the agar diffusion method and the bacteria kill-time technique against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . In both cases, all silver nanoparticles revealed their adequacy for the aimed purposes, the sample synthesized with green tea showing the best efficiency, which is in concordance with its highest contents of polyphenols, flavones and best total antioxidant activity. Various applications could be safely designed based on such silver nanoparticles for sustainable chemistry development.

Keywords: silver nanoparticles; sustainable synthesis; antimicrobial activity; Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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