article · Nanomaterials
Silver nanoparticles were produced using an aqueous extract of the extremophile plant Achillea maritima subsp. maritima through a green, non-toxic synthesis method. The resulting spherical nanoparticles, measuring between 14.13 and 21.26 nanometres, demonstrated strong antioxidant capability in laboratory testing, outperforming ascorbic acid. They also showed superior antidiabetic properties compared to acarbose by inhibiting the enzymes alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. Furthermore, the nanoparticles disrupted key virulence mechanisms in bacterial and fungal pathogens, including Candida albicans, by impairing biofilm formation and extracellular polymeric substance production. Crucially, the particles exhibited no cytotoxic effects when tested on human cells in culture, while showing no lysozyme activity on Gram-positive bacterial cell walls. These combined properties support the development of plant-derived antimicrobial and metabolic therapies.
Managing metabolic disorders such as diabetes and combating resistant microbial infections demand safe, multi-target solutions. Synthesising functional nanomaterials using plant extracts eliminates the hazardous chemicals often required in nanoparticle manufacture. Because these particles can suppress key microbial virulence traits and inhibit enzymes linked to blood sugar control without harming human cells, they offer a promising foundation for safer healthcare solutions.
The research could enable the formulation of naturally derived antidiabetic treatments and topical or surface antimicrobial agents targeting pathogen biofilms. Likely users include pharmaceutical developers and manufacturers of healthcare disinfectants. The technology is currently at an early laboratory stage, as all demonstrated antimicrobial, enzymatic, and safety findings are derived solely from in vitro cell and biochemical assays, requiring substantial preclinical testing before practical application.
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Novel silver nanoparticles were synthesized based on a simple and non-toxic method by applying the green synthesis technique, using, for the first time, the aqueous extract of an extremophile plant belonging to the Achillea maritima subsp. maritima species. AgNP characterization was performed via UV-Visible, front-face fluorescence spectroscopy, and FTIR and XRD analyses. AgNP formation was immediately confirmed by a color change from yellow to brown and by a surface plasmon resonance peak using UV-Vis spectroscopy at 420 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape with a size ranging from approximatively 14.13 to 21.26 nm. The presented silver nanoparticles exhibited strong antioxidant activity following a DPPH assay compared to ascorbic acid, with IC50 values of about 0.089 µg/mL and 22.54 µg/mL, respectively. The AgNPs showed higher antidiabetic capacities than acarbose, by inhibiting both alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase. The silver nanoparticles could affect various bacterial mechanisms of virulence, such as EPS production, biofilm formation and DNA damage. The silver nanoparticles showed no lysozyme activity on the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria. The AgNPs also had a strong inhibitory effect on the Candida albicans virulence factor (extracellular enzymes, biofilm formation). The microscopic observation showed abnormal morphogenesis and agglomeration of Candida albicans exposed to AgNPs. The AgNPs showed no cytotoxic effect on human cells in an MTT assay. The use of novel silver nanoparticles is encouraged in the formulation of natural antimicrobial and antidiabetic agents.
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DOI: 10.3390/nano13131964
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