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Mycosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and their activity against some human pathogenic bacteria

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology volume 30, pages 2081–2090 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to biosynthesis silver nanoparticles from the fungus Nigrospora sphaerica isolated from soil samples and to examine their activity against five human pathogenic strains of bacteria viz. Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus using disc diffusion method. The synergistic effect of silver nanoparticles in combination with commonly used antibiotic Gentamycin against the selected bacteria was also examined. The synthesized silver nanoparticles from free-cell filtrate were characterized by using UV–Vis spectrophotometer analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). UV–Vis spectrophotometer analysis showed a peak at 420 nm indicating the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, FTIR analysis verified the detection of protein capping of silver nanoparticles while SEM micrographs revealed that the silver nanoparticles are dispersed and aggregated and mostly having spherical shape within the size range between 20 and 70 nm. The synthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited a varied growth inhibition activity (15–26 mm diam inhibition zones) against the tested pathogenic bacteria. A remarkable increase of bacterial growth inhibition (26–34 mm diam) was detected when a combination of silver nanoparticles and Gentamycin was used. A significant increase in fold area of antibacterial activity was observed when AgNPs in combination with Gentamycin was applied. The synthesized silver nanoparticles produced by the fungus N. sphaerica is a promising to be used as safe drug in medical therapy due to their broad spectrum against pathogenic bacteria.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the authorities of Biology Department, College of Education for Pure Sciences, Basra University (Iraq) for supporting this research work as a part of M Sc. research program scholarship awarded to the second author.

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  1. Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Basra, Basra, Iraq

    Tawfik M. Muhsin & Ahmad K. Hachim

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  1. Tawfik M. Muhsin
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  2. Ahmad K. Hachim
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Correspondence to Tawfik M. Muhsin.

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Muhsin, T.M., Hachim, A.K. Mycosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and their activity against some human pathogenic bacteria. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 30, 2081–2090 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-014-1634-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-014-1634-z

Keywords

  • Antibacterial agents
  • Fungal free-cell filtrate
  • Mycosynthesis
  • Pathogenic bacteria
  • Silver nanoparticles
  • Synergistic effect