Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties of Silver and Silver Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Cell-Free Extract of a Mangrove-Associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa M6 Using Two Different Thermal Treatments

Abstract

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles by cell-free extract (CFE) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa M6 isolated from a mangrove ecosystem was demonstrated using two physical methods, namely, boiling (conventional thermal treatment (CTT)) and microwave treatment (MWT) at pH 9. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the presence of smaller (10.4 nm), pure silver nanoparticles synthesized via CTT (C-NPs) and larger silver oxide nanoparticles in majority with negligible concentration of pure silver particles by MWT. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that C-NPs are spherical in shape. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis also confirmed the presence of large-sized, aggregated nanoparticles synthesized via MWT (M-NPs). Electrophoresis indicated the size and charge-based mobility in agarose gel (0.4%), wherein the C-NPs moved faster than M-NPs, because of their relatively smaller size. The zeta potential value of C-NPs and M-NPs was found to be −30.1 mV and −23.1 mV, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results revealed that both C-NPs and M-NPs were capped with proteins, but with different conformations. Furthermore, TEM analysis of bacterial cells exposed to aqueous silver nitrate showed the presence of spherical silver nanoparticles accumulated in periplasmic space, indicating the possible involvement of periplasmic nitrate reductase in this process. In addition, both C-NPs and M-NPs have also shown good antibacterial and anticandidal activities. Thus, marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa M6 can be a potential source for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles.