The primary purpose of this study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing chitin extracted from shrimp shell waste by simple photo-irradiation in a single-pot biosynthesis without adding any toxic chemical substances. Glucose molecules in the chitin extract act as the reducing agent, while amino acids in chitin behave like proteins and are responsible for the production of AgNPs by acting as the particle-stabilizing agent. The synthesized chitin-AgNPs were thoroughly investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared analysis, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a surface plasmon resonance peak at 470 nm, confirming the formation of chitin-AgNPs. FTIR data confirmed the association between chitin and AgNPs. TEM studies showed that the synthesized chitin-AgNPs have a spherical shape with particle sizes ranging from 10 to 30 nm. The prepared chitin-AgNPs exhibited intense antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, as well as antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus niger. Reactive oxygen species and live and dead cell assays were performed to examine the chitin- AgNPs and the results were further found to be interesting and positive. The assays revealed that the prepared chitin- AgNPs exhibited significant antimicrobial potential against B. subtilis and A. niger, with a zone of inhibition measuring approximately 6.2 mm and 30 mm, respectively. The effects of the chitin-AgNPs were compared to those of commercial agents, such as ciprofloxacin (6.0 mm) and fluconazole (25 mm). Consequently, the chitin-AgNPs developed through a greener approach show promising potential as sustainable materials for antibacterial and antifungal activities.
Key words: Silver nanoparticles; Chitin; Green synthesis; Antimicrobial
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