Synthesis and Biological Characterization of Phyto-Fabricated Silver Nanoparticles fromAzadirachta indica

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered a lot of interest in sectors like medicine, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals for antibacterial catalytic properties, reduced toxicity, and easy production. Biological synthesis of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) is considered as green, eco-friendly, and cost-effective approach; therefore,Azadirachta indicaextracts were utilized for a dual role of fabrication and functionalization of AgNPs. Optical and physical characterizations were achieved for confirming the biosynthesized AgNPs. SEM images detected quasi-spherical AgNPs of 44.04 to 66.50 nm. Some of potent phytochemicals like flavonoids and proteins fromAzadirachta indicaformed a strong coating or capping on the AgNPs without affecting their secondary structure by interacting with Ag+and NPs for the formation of AgNPs. AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity (MIC 10μg/ml) against multidrug-resistant bacteriaEnterococcus faecalis; at different concentrations, no IC50 values were recorded for AgNPs as well asAzadirachta indicasignifying low cytotoxicity in the exposed concentration range. The DNA degradation activity of AgNPs through the TUNEL assay revealed no significant increase in the overall FITC mean fluorescence intensity as well as a DNA fragmentation index with 5.45% DNA damage (10μg/ml AgNPs). Drug uptake of AgNPs was also investigated through a permeability assay via Caco-2 cell lines at test concentrations where apparent permeability was detected as moderate.