Seripheidium quettense mediated green synthesis of biogenic silver nanoparticles and their theranostic applications

ABSTRACT

Green synthesis of nanoparticles is an emerging field of nanotechnology, preferred over physical and chemical synthesis owing to their safety, cost-effectiveness nature, bio-compatibility, eco-friendly and scalable properties. The present study includes Seripheidium quettense aqueous extract mediated green synthesis, optimization of silver nanoparticles (Sq-AgNPs) and their pharmacological evaluations. Synthesis was done considering various optimization parameters including concentrations of AgNO₃, pH of the reaction mixture, extract to precursor ratio and temperature. Biosynthesis was carried out using our already optimized conditions. UV–visible spectrophotometer, FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis were used for characterization of Sq-AgNPs. The synthesized Sq-AgNPs (49.96–54.36 nm) were evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and hemolytic potentials. The maximum antibacterial activity was found against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Bacillus subtilis with their MICs of 11.1, 33.3 and 33.3 μg/mL, respectively. Aspergillus nigar was found as the most susceptible fungal strain with the highest zone of inhibition (13.2 ± 0.72 mm). Sq-AgNPs inhibited proliferation of human liver cancer cell lines (HepG2) with median lethal concentration (IC₅₀s) of 62.5 µg/mL. Results of the hemolytic assay showed that SqNPs are bio-compatible and have less effect on erythrocytes even at high concentration of 100 µg/mL.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Ephedra intermedia
• green synthesis
• Sq-AgNPs
• anti-microbials
• cancer

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad for their Lab facilities to conduct this study. We are also thankful to Institute of space technology Islamabad and National center for physics for their help in characterization of nanoparticles.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Muhammad Qasim Nasar received BS-Biotechnology degree from Forman Christian College Lahore. He is Master of Philosophy student of Biotechnology at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan. His main area of Research is green nano-biotechnology and evaluation of Bio-active phytochemicals from medicinal plant for biological activities.

Tanzeel Zohra received her MSc Botany from Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Pakistan. She has done her M. Phil Biotechnology from Quaid-i-Azam University. Her M.Phil research was about pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants.

Ali Talha Khalil received his PhD Biotechnology degree from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan. His research area includes green synthesis of metal nanoparticles and evaluation of their biological potential. He is fellow of UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology and fellow of NANOAFNET.

Sadam Saqib received his M.Phil degree in Plant Sciences from Quaid-i-Azam University. His research area includes synthesis of nanoparticles and evaluation of their effect against plant pathogens.

Muhammad Ayaz got his Doctor of Pharmacy (Phrm-D) degree from University of Malakand with a gold medal. Thereafter, he completed his M.PhiL degree from University of Peshawar in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacology) and PhD from University of Malakand in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacology). His research area is ethnopharmacology, Alzheimer's disease, Phytochemistry and nanotechnology. He is Associate Editor for Frontiers in Pharmacology (Ethnopharmacology), BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, International Journal of Pharmacology, Pharmacologia, Trends in Medical Research and Digital Chinese Medicine. He has Published more than 50 research and review articles with impact factor of 120⁺ and 700 Plus citations.

Ashfaq Ahmad is currently an assistant Professor at Pharmacy Department Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology (SUIT). He got his M.PhiL degree from Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST)and PhD from University of Malakand. He has published in renowned journals of high impact factors.

Zabta Khan Shinwari is professor of Biotechnology at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Paksitan. He got his Ph.D degree from Kyoto University, (Japan) in 1994. He is (UNESCO Laureate), President – National Council for Tibb Treasurer, the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA), Fellow, Islamic World Academy of Sciences and Secretary General at Pakistan Academy of Sciences,

ORCID

Muhammad Ayaz http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4299-2445