Title: Biogenic synthesis by Gracilaria corticata for efficient production of biocompatible silver nanoparticles and its applications

Authors: J. Saraniya Devi; B. Valentin Bhimba

Addresses: Department of Microbiology, Asan Memorial College of Arts and Science, Jaladampet, Chennai – 600 100, India; Department of Biotechnology, Sathyabama University, Chennai, 119, India ' Department of Microbiology, Asan Memorial College of Arts and Science, Jaladampet, Chennai – 600 100, India; Department of Biotechnology, Sathyabama University, Chennai, 119, India

Abstract: Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from seaweed extracts is currently under exploitation. Seaweed extracts are cost effective and eco-friendly and thus can be an economic and efficient alternative for large-scale synthesis of nanoparticles. The present study reports the synthesis of AgNPs from silver precursor, silver nitrate using aqueous extract of seaweed Gracilaria corticata (G. corticata). The organic compounds present in the filtrate of G. corticata were mainly responsible for reduction of silver ions to AgNPs. The filtrate when added to 1 mM aqueous silver nitrate solution at 121°C changed to dark brown colour solution within ten minutes, which confirms the bioreduction. These extremely stable AgNPs were characterised by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and EDS analysis. The nanoparticles exhibited maximum absorbance at 424 nm in the UV spectrum. The presence of proteins was identified by FTIR. TEM micrograph revealed the formation of polydispersed and spherical shaped nanoparticles with the size range of 10-50 nm and the presence of elemental silver were confirmed by EDS analysis. These nanoparticles showed cytotoxic activity against Hep2 cells.

Keywords: silver nanoparticles; Gracilaria corticata; cytotoxicity; Hep2 cell lines; biosynthesis; nanotechnology; seaweed extract; biocompatible nanoparticles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2013.057174

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2013 Vol.6 No.4, pp.312 - 323

Received: 09 Dec 2012
Accepted: 07 Mar 2013
Published online: 31 Mar 2014 *

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