Silver nanoparticles biosynthesis using an airborne fungal isolate, Aspergillus flavus: optimization, characterization and antibacterial activity

Aram Al-Soub; Khaled Khleifat; Amjad Al-Tarawneh; Muhamad  Al-limoun; Ibrahim Alfarrayeh; Ahmad Al Sarayreh; Yaseen Al Qaisi; Haitham Qaralleh; Moath Alqaraleh; Anas Albashaireh

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i4.10238

Aram Al-Soub Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
Khaled Khleifat Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
Amjad Al-Tarawneh Prince Faisal Center for Dead Sea, Environmental and Energy Research, Mutah University, Mutah, Karak, Jordan
Muhamad Al-limoun Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
Ibrahim Alfarrayeh Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
Ahmad Al Sarayreh Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
Yaseen Al Qaisi Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
Haitham Qaralleh Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
Moath Alqaraleh Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center (PDRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
Anas Albashaireh Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i4.10238

Keywords: Nanoparticles; Fungi; Antibacterial agents; Nanomedicine; Aspergillus flavus

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Nanoscience is one of the most important branches of modern science, which deals with the knowledge, structure, and properties of nanoparticles. This study aimed to investigate the ability of an airborne fun- gus (Aspergillus flavus) to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and to test the antibacterial activity of the synthesized AgNPs.

Materials and Methods: The confirmation of AgNPs synthesis and the characterization of their properties were done using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Zeta potential, Zeta sizer, FT-IR, and XRD analyses. The antibacterial activity was determined using broth microdilution method.

Results: The findings showed that the average diameter of the resultant AgNPs was 474.2 nm with a PDI value of 0.27, and the zeta potential was -33.8 mV. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the AgNPs were regular and spherical in shape. TEM micrographs demonstrated that the AgNPs were smaller than those that were observed by DLS examination because the drying process resulted in particle shrinkage. The average size of AgNPs were less than 35 nm. The AgNPs exhibited a remarkable antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, E. cloacae, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and Shigella sp., and the MIC values ranged from 25 to 100 µg/mL. However, an exception was P. aeruginosa in which its MIC was >125 µg/mL.

Conclusion: The results suggest that, the biosynthesized AgNPs by A. flavus could be utilized as a source of potent antibac- terial agents in medicine and biotechnological applications.