One-step functionalization of gold and silver nanoparticles by ampicillin

This report describes a one-step functionalization of gold and silver nanoparticles with ampicillin in which ampicillin is also used as a reducing agent to convert Au3+ and Ag+ to gold and silver nanoparticles, respectively. This process eliminates the use of other chemical reducing agents to provide a completely green synthetic route. The nanostructure, morphology, crystallinity, and reaction yield of the nanoparticles were investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Spherical and amorphous nanoparticles were synthesized with diameters of 10-33 nm. Remarkably, the newly-prepared NPs show excellent antibacterial activities against Streptococcus pyogenes (minimum inhibitory concentration 0.14-1.09 μg/mL). This system enables the straightforward functionalization of gold and silver nanoparticles with ampicillin using a simple, one-step process.