Sasa borealis leaf extract-mediated green synthesis of silver–silver chloride nanoparticles and their antibacterial and anticancer activities

Abstract

The green synthesis of silver–silver chloride nanoparticles (Ag–AgCl NPs) has been proposed as simple, easy, ecofriendly and cost effective. Herein, the leaf extract of Sasa borealis was used to transform silver nitrate into Ag–AgCl NPs, with phytochemicals from the leaf acting as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The Ag–AgCl NPs produced are anisotropic and have different particle morphologies depending on the reaction conditions. The synthetic procedure was optimized by varying reaction parameters, including pH, temperature, incubation time, salt concentration, and leaf extract concentration. Ag–AgCl NP formation was observed visually, through a color change, and from an absorbance peak (at around 400 to 450 nm) observed by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The shape, size, and morphology of the synthesized Ag–AgCl NPs were monitored by transmission electron microscopy. The face-centered cubic structure of Ag–AgCl NPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and the element composition by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed interactions between the leaf extract and the synthesized Ag–AgCl NPs. The optimized synthesis of Ag–AgCl NPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens and anticancerous activity against AGS (gastric adenocarcinoma) cells.