Synthesis, characterization and biological applications of mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been known for their inhibitory and bactericidal effects. In the present study, less toxic AgNPs using Cunninghamella echinulata is reported for the first time. The obtained AgNPs were characterized using UV–Visible spectrophotometer, XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM with EDAX and HR-TEM. AgNPs showed the maximum absorbance at 420–430 nm. The transmission electron micrograph revealed the formation of considerably uniform-sized AgNPs with an average size of 20–50 nm. The reducing and capping agents responsible for AgNP synthesis were identified by FT-IR. AgNP-incorporated cotton fabrics exhibited promising antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the in vitro cell viability of Vero cells (African green monkey kidney cells) was analyzed and the IC50 value of AgNPs was found to be 62.8 µg/mL. Taken together, these results clearly reveal less toxic AgNPs which could be exploited for various biomedical applications.