Green and facile fabrication of silver nanoparticles using Konjac Glucomannan by photocatalytic strategy

Green fabrication of highly stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is vital for its development. Herein, AgNPs with enhanced stability were prepared in an environmentally friendly manner using aqueous mixture of 0.8 mM silver nitrate and 10.0 mg/mL Konjac glucomannan (KGM) through a photocatalytic strategy. AgNPs were fabricated in situ at room temperature, followed by exposure to ultraviolet light for 510 min, resulting in complete reduction of all silver ions to AgNPs-KGM. AgNPs were firmly capped at the hydroxyl and acetyl groups of KGM through the formation of AgO bonds, which promoted the stable dispersion of AgNP-KGM, as determined by TSI value of 0.29 using multiple light scattering. Furthermore, AgNPs-KGM possessed excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with MIC and MBC values of 5.11 and 10.23 μg/mL, and 10.23 and 20.46 μg/mL, respectively. The proposed protocol is facile and feasible for large-scale production, achieving the goal of green fabrication.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Green fabrication; Konjac glucomannan; Photocatalysis; Silver nanoparticles.