Microwave-mediated green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles from fruit peel aqueous extract of Solanum melongena L. and study of antimicrobial property of silver nanoparticles

In the recent times, synthesis of different metallic nanoparticles through green route has gained tremendous importance among researchers. Exploration for new reducing and/or capping agents sourced from plant origin has revealed nature’s ability to reduce metallic ions into their respective nanoparticles. The present study describes green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using fruit peel aqueous extract of Solanum melongena L. under microwave irradiation (MWI) condition. Duration of MWI and concentration of fruit peel aqueous extract were optimized. Under all optimized conditions, the average diameter, polydispersity index and zeta potential of AuNPs synthesized were 29 nm, 0.214 and − 18.5 mV, respectively. For AgNPs, the respective values were 92.4 nm, 0.159 and − 20.4 mV. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed surface capping of AuNPs and AgNPs by phytochemicals. AgNPs showed strong antibacterial property against Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The applicative potentials of the fruit peel aqueous extract of S. melongena L. could be extended to the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles other than AuNPs and AgNPs. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.