OPTIMIZATION OF GREEN SYNTHESIZED SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING Azadirachta indica (NEEM) FOR THEIR INVESTIGATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

The present study demonstrates an economical and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the Azadirachta indica (neem). The process involves reduction of Ag⁺ ions to Ag°nanoparticles.The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed and the products characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The average sizes of AgNPs were found to be in a range of 5 to 9 nm in controlled environment. The formation of smaller size silver nanoparticles was seen at higher concentration of extract (25gm/100ml), silver nitrate (4mM) and higher temperature (70°C to 80°C). The antibacterial activity of resulting silver nanoparticles was found to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603. However synthesized silver nanoparticles were observed less effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosaATCC 27853. The resulting silver nanoparticles showed a synergism of neem extractand silver nanoparticles on bactericidal effectand process of synthesis creates new opportunities in process development for the synthesis of safe and eco-friendly AgNPs.