Silver Nanoparticles - Green Synthesis with Aq. Extract of Stems Ipomoea Pes-Caprae, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Anti-Cancer Potential

Green synthesis is a novel process for the preparation of numerous metallic nanoparticle and provides a safer and eco-friendly process simultaneously achieving functionalization of nanoparticles with bioactive molecules in the plants extract. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is performed using the aqueous extract of Ipomoea pes-caprae stems which acts as a bio-reducing agent. UV spectroscopic investigation confirms the formation of AgNPs by noticing the peak at 448 nm due to its surface plasmon resonance effect. The FTIR spectrum notifies peaks at 640, 3535, 3217, 1660, 1043 cm-1 confirming AgNPs mixing with the plant extract during synthesis. XRD analysis of AgNPs represents the (1 0 3), (1 1 1), (2 2 0) and (3 1 1) Bragg’s reflections confirming FCC structure of silver in the nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) investigation reveals non-agglomerated, well-dispersed AgNPs maintain its spherical shape and the size mostly less than 100 nm. AgNPs synthesized from Ipomoea pes-caprae plant extract were found to be in nano size and stable. The antibacterial potential of AgNPs against clinical isolates, such as P. aeruginosa, E. coli and Bacillus shows 13 ± 2 mm, 19 ± 2 mm, 14 ± 1 mm zone of inhibition respectively with the 100 μg of AgNPs. The MTT assay confirms the anticancer potential of AgNPs from Ipomoea pes-caprae stem extract showing IC 50 values of 78 μg of AgNPs/ml against MCF-7 cancer cells and cytotoxic effects raises AgNPs layers with the plant extract giving anti-proliferative effects on the cancer cells. This work suggests functionalizing AgNPs with plant extract, an alternative chemotherapeutic and anti-bacterial agent via a green synthesis approach.