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BACKGROUND Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly being used in medical applications. Therefore, cost effective and
green methods for generating AgNPs are required.
OBJECTIVES This study aimed towards the biosynthesis, characterisation, and determination of antimicrobial activity of AgNPs
produced using Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853.
METHODS Culture conditions (AgNO3
concentration, pH, and incubation temperature and time) were optimized to achieve
maximum AgNP production. The characterisation of AgNPs and their stability were evaluated by UV-visible spectrophotometry
and scanning electron microscopy.
FINDINGS The characteristic UV-visible absorbance peak was observed in the 420–430 nm range. Most of the particles were
spherical in shape within a size range of 33–300 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited higher stability than that exhibited
by chemically synthesized AgNPs in the presence of electrolytes. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited antimicrobial activity
against Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus,
Acinetobacter baumannii, and Candida albicans.
MAIN CONCLUSION As compared to the tested Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria required higher contact time to
achieve 100% reduction of colony forming units when treated with biosynthesized AgNPs produced using P. aeruginosa.
