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The global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a severe threat to public health, with multidrug-resistant pathogens undermining the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as promising broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Here, we report a gamma radiation-assisted green synthesis of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-stabilized AgNPs, enabling rapid, sterile production of highly pure, uniformly dispersed nanoparticles without toxic byproducts, adapted for biomedical applications. Notably, AgNPs derived from Ag 2 SO 4 precursor exhibited superior optical properties, and smaller homogeneous particle sizes compared to those from conventional AgNO 3 . Optimized PVP-AgNPs demonstrated a well-known surface plasmon resonance near 396 nm, with sizes in the range of 5–25 nm as observed by transmission electron microscope, and a hydrodynamic diameter of ~ 33 nm. The physicochemical characterization of AgNPs was performed via different techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. Importantly, PVP-/PVA-AgNPs displayed potent antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of ~ 1 and 1–2 mg/L against Staphylococcus aureus , respectively, and 0.5 mg/L against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli . These findings highlight the potential of green, radiation-synthesized AgNPs as a promising platform for next-generation antimicrobial materials in medical applications.

Nanoparticle synthesis, such as green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using biogenic extracts, is affected by light, which changes the characteristics of particles. However, the effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on AgNP biosynthesis using fungal pigment has not been examined. In this study, LEDs of different wavelengths were used in conjunction with Talaromyces purpurogenus extracellular pigment for AgNP biosynthesis. AgNPs were synthesized by mixing 10 mL of fungal pigment with AgNO3, followed by 24 h exposure to LEDs of different wavelengths, such as blue, green, orange, red, and infrared. All treatments increased the yield of AgNPs. The solutions exposed to blue, green, and infrared LEDs exhibited a significant increase in AgNP synthesis. All AgNPs were then synthesized to determine the optimum precursor (AgNO3) concentration and reaction rate. The results indicated 5 mM AgNO3 as the optimum precursor concentration; furthermore, AgNPs-blue LED had the highest reaction rate. Dynamic light scattering analysis, zeta potential measurement, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the AgNPs. All LED-synthesized AgNPs exhibited an antimicrobial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The combination of LED-synthesized AgNPs and the antibiotic streptomycin demonstrated a synergistic antimicrobial activity against both bacterial species.

Studies are presented in the context of the past attempts at finding nanocatalysts that can boost the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) ? in terms of waste treatment and energy generation. Given the great potential of biomimetically synthesized nanoparticles (BMNPs) in providing less expensive and more environmentally friendly alternatives to NPs synthesized by physical and chemical methods, as well as a near-total lack of previous work in this area, the current research was undertaken. Effect of gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized biomimetically using five freely available weeds, was assessed as catalysts in the MFCs. In all cases, the nanoparticles were seen to enhance the coulombic efficiency (reflective of the reduction in the waste’s organic carbon load), maximum attainable power density, and overall energy yield of the MFCs by >200% relative to the uncatalyzed MFCs. Gold nanoparticles were more effective than silver nanoparticles by ? 20%. The results reveal that biomimetically synthesized NPs can be highly effective in reducing the operational costs as well as ecological footprints of MFCs and further work should be focused on NPs of non-precious metals.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have now been recognized as promising therapeutic molecules and are extending their use in cancer diagnosis and therapy. This study demonstrates for the first time the antitumor activity of green-synthesized AgNPs against lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Cytotoxicity effect was explored on human lung cancer H1299 cells in vitro by MTT and trypan blue assays. Apoptosis was measured by morphological assessment, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity was determined by a luciferase reporter gene assay. The expressions of phosphorylated stat3, bcl-2, survivin, and caspase-3 were examined by Western blot analysis. AgNPs showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity and stimulation of apoptosis in H1299 cells. The effects on H1299 cells correlated well with the inhibition of NF-κB activity, a decrease in bcl-2, and an increase in caspase-3 and survivin expression. AgNPs significantly suppressed the H1299 tumor growth in a xenograft severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model. The results demonstrate the anticancer activities of AgNPs, suggesting that they may act as potential beneficial molecules in lung cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy, especially for early-stage intervention.

This study demonstrated a controllable release properties and synergistic antibacterial actions between orange essential oil (OEO) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) incorporated onto cellulose (CL) nanofibers. The preparation of AgNPs attached on CL nanofibers was conducted through multiple processes including the deacetylation process to transform cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers to CL nanofibers, the in situ synthesis of AgNPs, and the coating of as-prepared silver composite CL nanofibers using OEO solutions with two different concentrations. The success of immobilization of AgNPs onto the surface of CL nanofibers and the incorporation of OEO into the polymer matrix was confirmed by SEM-EDS, TEM, XRD, and FT-IR characterizations. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young’s modulus of the nanofibers after each step of treatment were recorded and compared to pristine CA nanofibers. The high antibacterial activities of AgNPs and OEO were assessed against Gram-positive B. subtilis and Gram-negative E. coli microorganisms. The combined effects of two antimicrobials, AgNPs and OEO, were distinctively recognized against E. coli.

The increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria represents a true challenge in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. For this reason, research on the development of new potential antibacterial strategies is essential. Here, we describe the development of a green system for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) bioconjugated with chitosan. We optimized a Prunus cerasus leaf extract as a source of silver and its conversion to chitosan–silver bioconjugates (CH-AgNPs). The AgNPs and CH-AgNPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and zeta potential measurement (Z-potential). The cytotoxic activity of AgNPs and CH-AgNPs was assessed on Vero cells using the 3-[4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs and CH-AgNPs synthesized using the green system was determined using the broth microdilution method. We evaluated the antimicrobial activity against standard ATCC and clinically isolated multisensitive (MS) and multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumoniae), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays and the broth dilution method. The results of the antibacterial studies demonstrate that the silver chitosan bioconjugates were able to inhibit the growth of MDR strains more effectively than silver nanoparticles alone, with reduced cellular toxicity. These nanoparticles were stable in solution and had wide-spectrum antibacterial activity. The synthesis of silver and silver chitosan bioconjugates from Prunus cerasus leaf extracts may therefore serve as a simple, ecofriendly, noncytotoxic, economical, reliable, and safe method to produce antimicrobial compounds with low cytotoxicity.

Engineered silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are implemented in food contact materials due to their powerful antimicrobial properties and so may enter the human food chain. Hence, it is desirable to develop easy, sensitive and fast analytical screening methods for the determination of AgNPs in complex biological matrices. This study describes such a method using solid sampling high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). A recently reported novel evaluation strategy uses the atomization delay of the respective GFAAS signal as significant indicator for AgNPs and thereby allows discrimination of AgNPs from ionic silver (Ag⁺) in the samples without elaborate sample pre-treatment. This approach was further developed and applied to a variety of biological samples. Its suitability was approved by investigation of eight different food samples (parsley, apple, pepper, cheese, onion, pasta, maize meal and wheat flour) spiked with ionic silver or AgNPs. Furthermore, the migration of AgNPs from silver-impregnated polypropylene food storage boxes to fresh pepper was observed and a mussel sample obtained from a laboratory exposure study with silver was investigated. The differences in the atomization delays (Δt ₐd) between silver ions and 20-nm AgNPs vary in a range from −2.01 ± 1.38 s for maize meal to +2.06 ± 1.08 s for mussel tissue. However, the differences were significant in all investigated matrices and so indicative of the presence/absence of AgNPs. Moreover, investigation of model matrices (cellulose, gelatine and water) gives the first indication of matrix-dependent trends. Reproducibility and homogeneity tests confirm the applicability of the method. Graphical Abstract Direct detection of silver nanoparticles in biological samples

The nanomaterial industry generates gigantic quantities of metal-based nanomaterials for various technological and biomedical applications; however, concomitantly, it places a massive burden on the environment by utilizing toxic chemicals for the production process and leaving hazardous waste materials behind. Moreover, the employed, often unpleasant chemicals can affect the biocompatibility of the generated particles and severely restrict their application possibilities. On these grounds, green synthetic approaches have emerged, offering eco-friendly, sustainable, nature-derived alternative production methods, thus attenuating the ecological footprint of the nanomaterial industry. In the last decade, a plethora of biological materials has been tested to probe their suitability for nanomaterial synthesis. Although most of these approaches were successful, a large body of evidence indicates that the green material or entity used for the production would substantially define the physical and chemical properties and as a consequence, the biological activities of the obtained nanomaterials. The present review provides a comprehensive collection of the most recent green methodologies, surveys the major nanoparticle characterization techniques and screens the effects triggered by the obtained nanomaterials in various living systems to give an impression on the biomedical potential of green synthesized silver and gold nanoparticles.

In this work, active sheets composed by thermoplastic starch and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were obtained. The mechanical properties and water vapor permeability of the sheets were not affected by the presence of the silver nanoparticles. As a proof of concept, the sheets were applied to pack sliced cooked ham for 7 days at 10°C. Migration of metallic silver from the sheets to the sliced ham was detected in a considered safe concentration, according to literature data, by ICP-MS. The sheets coated with AgNPs were able to significantly hinder psychrotrophic and mesophilic bacteria growth during 7 days of storage when compared to the control sample (sheets without AgNPs). Furthermore, lipid oxidation occurred in a higher proportion in the ham packaged with AgNPs, probably due to the catalyst effect of silver. It may be concluded that the sheets composed by starch and PLA acted as an effective support for the AgNPs, as well as an active packaging for sliced cooked ham.

This review covers general information about the eco-friendly process for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and focuses on mechanism of the antibacterial activity of AgNPs and the anticancer activity of AuNPs. Biomolecules in the plant extract are involved in reduction of metal ions to nanoparticle in a one-step and eco-friendly synthesis process. Natural plant extracts contain wide range of metabolites including carbohydrates, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and enzymes. A variety of plant species and plant parts have been successfully extracted and utilized for AgNP and AuNP syntheses. Green-synthesized nanoparticles eliminate the need for a stabilizing and capping agent and show shape and size-dependent biological activities. Here, we describe some of the plant extracts involved in nanoparticle synthesis, characterization methods, and biological applications. Nanoparticles are important in the field of pharmaceuticals for their strong antibacterial and anticancer activity. Considering the importance and uniqueness of this concept, the synthesis, characterization, and application of AgNPs and AuNPs are discussed in this review.