Fluorescent light mediated a green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the protein extract of weaver ant larvae

- AgNPs was synthesized using the protein extract of ant larvae under light exposure.
- Small AgNPs of approximately 8 nm was produced.
- The AgNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus.

Alternative to crude plant extracts, a crude protein extract derived from animal cells is one of the potential sources of biomolecules for mediating a reduction of silver ions and a formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) under a mild condition, which very few works have been reported. This work demonstrated a use of the protein extract of weaver ant larvae as a bio-facilitator for a simple, green synthesis of AgNPs under fluorescent light at room temperature. The protein extract of weaver ant larvae exhibited the reducing and antioxidant activities, which assisted a formation of AgNPs in the reaction containing only silver nitrate under light exposure. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed the dispersed, spherical AgNPs with an average size of 7.87 ± 2.54 nm. The maximum surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the synthesized AgNPs was at 435 nm. The energy-dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that silver was a major element of the particles. The identity of AgNPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern, selected area electron diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses, which demonstrated the planes of face centered cubic silver. The synthesized AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values equally at 250 μg/ml, suggesting their potential application as an effective antibacterial agent.

Graphical Abstract