Biosynthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Gold, Silver, and Bimetallic Nanoparticles Using Annona squamosa L. Leaves

Abstract

The utilization of nano-sized drug delivery systems in herbal drug delivery systems has a promising future for improving drug effectiveness and overcoming issues connected with herbal medicine. As a consequence, the use of nanocarriers as novel drug delivery systems for the improvement of traditional medicine is critical to combating infectious diseases globally. In line with this, we herein report the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) as antibacterial agents against pathogenic bacterial strains using <i>Annona squamosa</i> L. leaf extract as a bio-reductant and bio-stabilizing agent. The as-synthesized metal nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. The as-synthesized MNPs had an average particle size of 6.98 nm ± 2.86 nm (AgNPs), 21.84 ± 8.72 nm (AuNPs), and 2.05 nm ± 0.76 nm (BMNPs). The as-synthesized AgNPs and BMNPs showed good antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacterial strains of Gram-positive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (ATCC 25923) and Gram-negative <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ATCC 25922). The obtained results offer insight into the development of benign nanoparticles as safe antibacterial agents for antibiotic therapy using <i>Annona squamosa</i> L. leaf extract.