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Droplet-based microfluidic synthesis of silver nanoparticles stabilized by PVA and PVP: applications in anticancer and antimicrobial activities

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Abstract

Droplet-based microfluidic reactors are promising platforms for the synthesis of nanoparticles having several potential applications. This study reports the synthesis of long-term stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a segmented flow polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based microfluidic platform for the first time. The polymeric stabilizers, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), were used to stabilize the AgNPs suspensions over a long period of time at room temperature. These particles were characterized using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The stability analysis of colloidal suspensions of AgNPs was accessed using UV–Vis spectroscopy for a period of 6 months. PVA was found to be comparatively the more effective stabilizer for AgNPs. The average size distribution of AgNPs stabilized with PVA was found to be 16.8 ± 1.8 nm using scanning electron microscopy. These suspensions were then stored for a period of 36 months and observed to remain stable with an increase in the size up to 41.7 ± 7 nm. PVA-stabilized AgNPs were assessed against 4T1 breast cancer cells and were observed to hinder the growth of breast cancer cells at a very low dose of 20 µg/mL with 87% (p = 0.0042) efficacy. These AgNPs showed significant antibacterial activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococci luteus. The maximum zone of inhibition obtained was 18 mm against Staphylococcus aureus at a very low concentration of 20 µg/mL. These outcomes indicate that the proposed microfluidic reactor provides a robust approach for the preparation of highly stable AgNPs in combination with PVA as stabilizer which has also shown great potential in antibacterial and anticancer treatments.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this research are available from the corresponding author upon a rational request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, for their support in antibreast cancer activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Applied Mathematics and Center for Mathematical Sciences, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Shazia Bashir & Muhammad Bashir

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, PIEAS, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Adnan Ali & Mansoor H. Inayat

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University, H-10 Campus, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Ayesha Aftab

  4. Department of Metallurgy and Material Engineering, PIEAS, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Tayyaba Ghani

  5. Department of Physics, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan

    Athar Javed

  6. Biomimetics Group, Biosystems Department, KU Leuven, Willem De Croylaan 42, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Saima Rafique

  7. Department of Physics, Air University, PAF Complex, E-9, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Attaullah Shah

  8. National Institute of Lasers and Optronics College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad, 45650, Pakistan

    Xavier Casadevall i Solvas

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  1. Shazia Bashir
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  2. Adnan Ali
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  10. Mansoor H. Inayat
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Correspondence to Shazia Bashir.

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Bashir, S., Ali, A., Bashir, M. et al. Droplet-based microfluidic synthesis of silver nanoparticles stabilized by PVA and PVP: applications in anticancer and antimicrobial activities. Chem. Pap. 76, 7205–7216 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-022-02403-w

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