Fabrication, optimization and characterization of noble silver nanoparticles from sugarcane leaves (Saccharum officinarum) extract for antifungal application

Authors: MANIKANDAN, VELU - Chonbuk National University; LEE, JEONG-HO - Sunchang Research Institute; CHANG, WOO-SUK - University Of Texas; Lovanh, Nanh; PARK, YOOL-JIN - Chonbuk National University; JAYANTHI, PALANIYAPPAN - Periyar University; VELMURUGAN, PALANIVEL - Chonbuk National University; OH, BYUNG-TAEK - Chonbuk National University

Submitted to: 3 Biotech
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2017
Publication Date: 6/8/2017
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5700724
Citation: Manikandan, V., Lee, J., Chang, W., Lovanh, N.C., Park, Y., Jayanthi, P., Velmurugan, P., Oh, B. 2017. Fabrication, optimization, and characterization of noble silver nanoparticles from sugarcane leaves (Saccharum officinarum) extract for antifungal application. 3 Biotech. 7:147. doi:10.1007/s13205-017-0749-y.

Interpretive Summary: The ever-increasing population has put a great pressure on our food production systems. To increase profit margin along with productivity, the utilization of fungicides (pesticides) to protect crops and reduce fungal diseases has contributed to the widespread of pesticides contamination in the environment since most of these applied pesticides reach destinations other than their intended targets. Thus, it is necessary to find a simple and environmental friendly way to counter or reduce the proliferation of these pesticides in the environment by utilizing naturally occurring antimicrobial agents. Naturally occurring nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties hold a great promise in this arena. Among the diverse metallic nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained more importance in the scientific community due to their antimicrobial properties as well as their wide applications in medicine, biology, material sciences, physics, chemistry, their unique properties/use as catalysts/electrocatalysts, polymer membranes, sensor design applications, coatings for antifouling of water treatment systems, plastics, nano fiber, antimicrobial textiles, fuel cells, and active membranes. In this study, nontoxic, eco-friendly methods for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using agricultural residues were carried out along with the study on the antimicrobial (anti-fungal) properties of silver nanoparticles obtained from sugarcane leaf extracts. The results show that AgNPs have a remarkable activity against plant pathogenic fungi. Therefore, the present study provides a potential eco-friendly and sustainable way for the synthesis of antimicrobial nanoparticles from agricultural wastes that may be quite useful in reducing pathogens in agricultural settings.

Technical Abstract: Metal nanoparticles obtained from green route are gaining significant prominence as a result of their potential applications in nanomedicine and material engineering. Overall metal nanoparticles studied, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) clutch prominent place in nanoparticles research field. Herein, we have reported the green synthesis of Saccharum officinarum leaf biomass extract mediated synthesis of AgNPs. Initial nanoparticle production was confirmed by visual observation as color change from light yellow to bright brown color with yellow shade and spectrophotometrically at 450 nm and the various reaction conditions were optimized. The FT-IR spectra of the biomass extract and synthesized AgNPs authorized the presence of phyto constituents as capping agent. The High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) analyses confirm the morphology and the average particle size of AgNPs as ~28.2 nm. The crystalline nature oxide state and mean particle diameter of AgNPs were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) pattern and face-centred cubic (FCC). The obtained AgNPs show moderate to good antifungal activity against Phytophthora capsici, Colletotrichum acutatum and Cladosporium fulvum as 10 mm, 12 mm and 14 mm zones of inhibition against synthesized AgNPs at 250 µg/well, respectively.