Journal Article

Green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles from Cannabis sativa (industrial hemp) and their capacity for biofilm inhibition

Tunjic, Sanja, Mokkapati, Venkata, Mackevica, Aiga, Pandit, Santosh, Garnæs, Jørgen, Baun, Anders, Sultan, Abida, Mijakovic, Ivan, Singh, Priyanka, Mateiu, Ramona Valentina, Thygesen, Anders, Daugaard, Anders Egede

2018

Overview

(hemp) is a source of various biologically active compounds, for instance, cannabinoids, terpenes and phenolic compounds, which exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. With the purpose of expanding the auxiliary application of in the field of bio-nanotechnology, we explored the plant for green and efficient synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The nanoparticles were synthesized by utilizing an aqueous extract of stem separated into two different fractions (cortex and core [xylem part]) without any additional reducing, stabilizing and capping agents. In the synthesis of AuNPs using the cortex enriched in bast fibers, fiber-AuNPs (F-AuNPs) were achieved. When using the core part of the stem, which is enriched with phenolic compounds such as alkaloids and cannabinoids, core-AuNPs (C-AuNPs) and core-AgNPs (C-AgNPs) were formed. Synthesized nanoparticles were character-ized by UV-visible analysis, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight. In addition, the stable nature of nanoparticles has been shown by thermogravimetric analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Finally, the AgNPs were explored for the inhibition of and biofilms. The synthesized nanoparticles were crystalline with an average diameter between 12 and 18 nm for F-AuNPs and C-AuNPs and in the range of 20-40 nm for C-AgNPs. ICP-MS analysis revealed concentrations of synthesized nanoparticles as 0.7, 4.5 and 3.6 mg/mL for F-AuNPs, C-AuNPs and C-AgNPs, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of flavonoids, cannabinoids, terpenes and phenols on the nanoparticle surface, which could be responsible for reducing the salts to nanoparticles and further stabilizing them. In addition, the stable nature of synthesized nanoparticles has been shown by thermogravimetric analysis and ICP-MS. Finally, the AgNPs were explored for the inhibition of and biofilms. The nanoparticles exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration values of 6.25 and 5 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration values of 12.5 and 25 µg/mL against and , respectively.

• Publisher: Dove Medical Press Limited,Taylor & Francis Ltd,Dove Press,Dove Medical Press
• Subject: Alkaloids / Alzheimer's disease / Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology / Anti-inflammatory agents / Antibacterial agents / Antibiotics / Antimicrobial agents / Atomic force microscopy / Biofilm / Biofilms / Biofilms - drug effects / Biology / biomedical application / Biomedical engineering / Cancer therapies / Cancer treatment / Cannabis - chemistry / Cannabis sativa / Cannabis sativa (Hemp) / Dynamic Light Scattering / E coli / Electron microscopy / Engineering / Escherichia coli / Escherichia coli - drug effects / Escherichia coli - physiology / Flavonoids / Fourier transforms / Gold / Gold - chemistry / Gold - pharmacology / Gold nanoparticles / Green Chemistry Technology - methods / Hemp / Herbal medicine / Humans / ICP-MS / Infections / Ionization / Ions / Isoflavones / Kinetics / Marijuana / Mass spectrometry / medicinal plant / Medicinal plants / Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry / Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure / Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Microorganisms / Microscopy / Nanomaterials / nanoparticle concentration / Nanoparticles / Nanotechnology / Original Research / Particle Size / pathogenic strains / Phenols (Class of compounds) / Plant Extracts - chemistry / Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects / Pseudomonas aeruginosa - physiology / Silver / Silver - chemistry / Silver - pharmacology / Silver nanoparticles / Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Spectroscopy / Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Terpenes