The present study reports an eco-friendly, cost efficient, rapid and easy method for synthesis
of silver nanoparticles using banana peel extract (BPE) as a reducing and capping
agent. The different factor affecting silver reduction was investigated. The optimum conditions
were silver nitrate (1.75 mM), BPE (20.4 mg dry weight), pH (4.5) and incubation time
(72 h). BPE can reduces silver ions into silver nanoparticles within 5 min after heating the
reaction mixture (40e100 C) as indicated by the developed reddish brown color. The UV
eVis spectrum of silver nanoparticles revealed a characteristic surface plasmon resonance
(SPR) peak at 433 nm. Silver nanoparticles were characterized. X ray diffraction revealed
their crystalline nature. Scanning electron microscope and field emission scanning electron
microscope showed spherical shaped and monodispersed nanoparticles. Transmission
electron microscope confirmed the spherical nature and the crystallinity of
nanoparticles. The average size of nanoparticles was 23.7 nm as determined by dynamic
light scattering. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis showed the peak in silver
region confirming presence of elemental silver. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
affirmed the role of BPE as a reducing and capping agent of silver ions. Silver nanoparticles
showed effective antibacterial activity against representative pathogens of bacteria and
yeast. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration
were determined. The synthesized nanoparticles showed synergistic effect with levofloxacin
antibiotic, the antimicrobial activity increased by 1.16e1.32 fold.
Copyright © 2015, The Egyptian Society of Radiation Sciences and Applications. Production
and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license