Sunlight Irradiation Induced Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Glycolipid Bio-surfactant and Exploring the Antibacterial Activity

In the present study, sunlight irradiation induced strategy for the rapid green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), is reported for the first time using glycolipid bio-surfactant. On exposing a mixture of silver nitrate solution and glycolipid bio-surfactant in the ratio 3:1 to sunlight, stable silver nanoparticles were obtained within few minutes. The glycolipid bio-surfactant acts as both reducing and stabilizing agents in the synthesis of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles synthesized were characterized using UV–Vis spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscopy and FTIR. Synthesized nanoparticles were in the range of 70-90 nm with spherical shape. The absorption spectroscopy indicates the band gap of silver nanoparticles was 3.4 eV. Further, the antibacterial activity assay of the synthesized nanoparticle exhibits as potential antibacterial agents. Hence, the present study demonstrates that biologically synthesized nanoparticle could be employed for developing antibacterial drug.