Phoma sorghina, a Phytopathogen Mediated Synthesis of Unique Silver Rods

ABSTRACT

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles is in the limelight in modern nanotechnology. Nanobiotechnology has emerged as an important branch of nanotechnology. The present study deals with a novel method for the biosynthesis of silver nanorods using the fungal culture Phoma sorghina. With the treatment of aqueous solution of AgNO₃ (1mM) with fungal extract, all the reaction mixtures turned from pale-yellow to brown after 2 h and produced stable silver nanoparticles at high concentration. The reaction mixture exhibited an absorbance peak at 416 nm, with a long tailing up to 800 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the formation of silver nanorods. The length of the nanorods ranged from 120–160 nm with a width range from 30–40 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis confirms the presence of elemental silver in the sample divulging the silver. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows a number of Bragg's reflections, which are due to the face-centered cubic structure of the crystalline silver. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis disclosed that silver nanorods are capped with the proteins.

The P. sorghina could synthesize the silver nanorods due to the secretion of anthraquinone derivatives. The method of synthesis of silver nanorods is simple and eco-friendly.

KEYWORDS:

• Biosynthesis
• Phoma sorghina
• silver nanorods
• FTIR
• SEM
• XRD
• EDX

Acknowledgments

Aniket Gade would like to acknowledge the Department of Physics, University of Pune for characterization facility and Indian Academy of Sciences for providing a Summer Research Fellowship.