The synthesis of citrate-modified silver nanoparticles in an aqueous suspension of graphene oxide nanosheets and their antibacterial activity.

A composite material consisting of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) deposited on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets is prepared by chemical reduction of Ag metal ions by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the presence of trisodium citrate acting as a stabilizing agent to prevent agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The synthesized GO/Ag NPs composite was characterized by UV/vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM analysis confirmed a high density of Ag NPs on the GO nanosheets with a particle size range of 2-25 nm. The activity of the GO/Ag NPs suspension as an antibacterial agent against Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis was investigated. The percentage of the killing bacterial colonies by Ag NPs (without GO) is found to be 96-97% while 100% of killing bacterial colonies is only obtained using GO/Ag NPs suspension. Moreover, it was also observed that leakage of sugars and proteins from the cell wall of both S. aureus and B. subtilis in interaction with GO/Ag NPs suspension is higher compared to Ag NPs (without GO) and GO nanosheets.

In situ biosynthesis of Ag, Au and bimetallic nanoparticles using Piper pedicellatum C.DC: green chemistry approach.

The synthesis of Ag, Au and Ag-Au bimetallic nanoparticles using Piper pedicellatum C.DC leaf extract is demonstrated here. The rapid formation of stable Ag and Au nanoparticles has been found using P. pedicellatum C.DC leaf extract in aqueous medium at normal atmospheric condition. Competitive reduction of Ag(+) and Au(3+) ions present simultaneously in solution during exposure to P. pedicellatum C.DC leaf extract leads to the synthesis of bimetallic Ag-Au nanoparticles in solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the Ag nanoparticles predominantly form spherical in shape with the size range of 2.0±0.5-30.0±1.2 nm. In case of Au nanoparticles, the particles are spherical in shape along with few triangular, hexagonal and pentagonal shaped nanoparticles also observed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed that the nanoparticles were face centered cubic (fcc) in shape. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed nanoparticles were capped with plant compounds. The chemical constituents, viz. catechin, gallic acid, courmaric acid and protocatechuic acid of the leaf extract were identified which may act as a reducing, stabilizing and capping agent. The expected reaction mechanism in the formation of Ag and Au nanoparticles is also reported.