Comparative Characterization of Iron and Silver Nanoparticles: Extract-Stabilized and Classical Synthesis Methods

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Traditional colloidal synthesis of nanoparticles can be costly and environmentally taxing.
• Plant-mediated synthesis offers a sustainable and economical approach to nanoparticle production.
• Silver and iron nanoparticles possess diverse applications, including antimicrobial uses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize silver and iron nanoparticles using sphagnum moss extract.
• To characterize the synthesized nanoparticles using various analytical techniques.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of the nanoparticles, including their effect on biofilm formation.

Main Methods:

• Nanoparticle synthesis via plant extract (sphagnum) and traditional methods.
• Characterization using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), UV-visible spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), dark-field hyperspectral microscopy, and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR).
• Antibacterial activity assays, including biofilm formation assessment.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of silver and iron nanoparticles using sphagnum extract.
• Comprehensive structural and property analysis confirming nanoparticle formation and characteristics.
• Demonstrated high antibacterial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles against tested microbes.
• Evidence of nanoparticle influence on bacterial biofilm formation.

Conclusions:

• Sphagnum moss extract is an effective medium for green synthesis of silver and iron nanoparticles.
• The synthesized nanoparticles exhibit potent antimicrobial properties.
• These plant-derived nanoparticles hold significant promise for future research and applications in antimicrobial technologies.