Biosynthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using Brevibacterium casei

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Nanoparticle synthesis often involves hazardous chemicals.
• Developing eco-friendly methods for nanoparticle production is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a green synthesis process for gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and silver nanoparticles (AgNP).
• To utilize the bacterium Brevibacterium casei for nanoparticle synthesis and stabilization.
• To characterize the synthesized nanoparticles and evaluate their biological activity.

Main Methods:

• Bacterial biomass of Brevibacterium casei was used to treat chloroaurate and Ag(+) ion solutions.
• Nanoparticle characterization included surface plasmon absorbance, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).

Main Results:

• Spherical AuNPs and AgNPs (10-50 nm) were successfully synthesized and stabilized by B. casei.
• XRD confirmed the metallic nature of the nanoparticles.
• FTIR indicated proteins acted as reducing and capping agents, enhancing nanoparticle stability.
• Synthesized nanoparticles exhibited stable anti-coagulant properties.

Conclusions:

• Brevibacterium casei provides an effective, eco-friendly platform for synthesizing stable AuNPs and AgNPs.
• The protein biomolecules from the bacterium play a key role in nanoparticle formation and stabilization.
• The synthesized nanoparticles demonstrate potential for biomedical applications due to their anti-coagulant activity.