Utilizing Biomolecule-Rich Citrus Fruit Waste as a Medium for the Eco-Friendly Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Properties

oleh: Ramesa Shafi Bhat, Abeer M. Al-Dbass, Arwa Ishaq A. Khayyat, Sooad Al-Daihan

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-06-01

Deskripsi

An ample amount of fruit waste is generated as agro-industrial waste, leading to significant nutritional, economic, and environmental challenges. Fruit peels are rich in many valuable bioactive compounds with the potential for developing nanoparticles. This study examined fresh juices of two citrus fruit peel wastes (<i>Citrus sinensis</i>: <i>C. sinesis</i> and <i>Citrus limon</i>: <i>C. limon</i>) for antioxidants and total protein. Then, we investigated their ability to produce silver nanoparticles, which were further analyzed for anti-microbial activity against thirteen pathogenic microbes. Both <i>Citrus</i> peel juices were rich in secondary metabolites. The formation of Ag nanoparticles was initially confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy, with peaks at 400 nm for <i>C. sinensis</i> peel Ag nanoparticles and 430 nm for <i>C. limon</i> peel Ag nanoparticles. Further characterization was conducted using zeta sizer, zeta potential, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity was tested using the well diffusion method against 11 bacterial strains (five Gram-positive and six Gram-negative) and two fungal strains of <i>Candida.</i> TEM and SEM results revealed a spherical shape, with an average diameter of about 13 nm for <i>C. sinensis</i> and 21 nm for <i>C. limon</i> Ag. EDX confirmed the presence of silver in both nanoparticles. The FTIR spectrum of the extract indicated the presence of biomolecules, which facilitated the reduction and capping of the synthesized Ag nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles showed remarkable antimicrobial activity, but the nanoparticles from <i>C. sinensis</i> exhibited stronger antibacterial properties because of their smaller size. <i>Citrus</i> peel waste is a suitable medium for the eco-friendly production of silver nanoparticles.