Albizia chevalier based Ag nanoparticles: Anti-proliferation, bactericidal and pollutants degradation performance

The eco-friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNps) from bark extract of Albizia chevalier are reported here for their anti-proliferative, antibacterial and pollutant degradation potentials. The synthesized AgNps were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-rays spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray diffraction studies. The TEM and FESEM images show a monodispersed spherical shaped particles of approximately 30 nm. Crystalline peaks were obtained for the synthesized AgNps in XRD spectrum. The AgNps were investigated for in vitro anticancer and antibacterial activities and its potential to degrade 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and congo red dye (CR). The MTT results shows a significant dose-dependent antiproliferation effect of the AgNps on the cell lines HepG2, MDA-MB-231 and MFC7. The effect was found more pronounced in MDA-MB-231 as compared to MFC-7 cell lines. The antibacterial results indicated 99 and 95% killing of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) respectively, after 24 h of incubation with the AgNps. The AgNps were found to speed up the reductive degradation of 4-NP and CR dye, which give an alternative route for the removal of toxic organic pollutants from the wastewater. The synthesized AgNps were not only used as a bactericidal and anticancer agent, but also effectively used for the reductive degradation of carcinogenic compounds which are listed as the priority pollutants. Therefore, AgNps have the potential for the treatment of various cancers, bacterial infections and for industrial detoxification of wastewater.