Synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles using silk fibroin: characterization and antimicrobial properties

AbstractIn the present investigation, anisotropic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using silk fibroin (SF) obtained from Bombyx mori silk without any reducing agent under UV-B environment. The UV-visible (UV-vis) spectra of the SF-AgNPs colloids showed strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the range of 441–451 nm along with additional peaks at different wavelengths confirming the formation of anisotropic AgNPs. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) study revealed metal silver with face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images proved that the biogenic synthesis route is suitable to produce silver nanoparticles of different shapes. These biogenic anisotropic AgNPs showed enhanced antibacterial activity against tested human pathogens compared with spherical shaped AgNPs.