Highly stable antibacterial silver nanoparticles as selective fluorescent sensor for Fe³⁺ ions

Calix[4]resorcinarene polyhydrazide (CPH) protected water dispersible fluorescent silver nanaoparticles (AgNps) were prepared by one-pot method using water soluble CPH and AgNO₃. (CPH) bearing hydrazide group on its periphery acts as a reducing agent and its web type of structure as a stabilizing agent for the formation of calix protected silver nanoparticles (CPH-AgNps). CPH-AgNps were found to be highly stable over 120 days at room temperature and at varied pH. CPH-AgNps were characterized by UV/Vis-spectroscopy, particle size analyzer (PSA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Duly characterized nanoparticles were explored for their application as sensitive and selective fluorescent chemosensors for various metal ions. It was found that nanoparticles were selective and sensitive only for Fe(3+) ions with the linear range of detection from 0.1 μM to 10 μM. CPH-AgNps were also found to exhibit good antimicrobial activity when compared with standard Chloramphenicol. The selectivity and antimicrobial activity of CPH-AgNps suggests its potential use as a sensor for Fe(III) ions in ecosystems prone to industrial pollution and as an antimicrobial agent in biological applications.