Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties

<b>Background:</b> Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show promises as antimicrobial biomaterials with use for combating multidrug-resistant microorganisms, and they are widely used in healthcare, medicine, and food industries. However, traditional physicochemical synthesis methods often requi...

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Main Authors: Marisol Gastelum-Cabrera, Pablo Mendez-Pfeiffer, Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal, Brenda Velasco-Rodríguez, Patricia D. Martínez-Flores, Sergio Silva-Bea, Vicente Domínguez-Arca, Gerardo Prieto, Silvia Barbosa, Ana Otero, Pablo Taboada, Josué Juárez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/5/672
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author Marisol Gastelum-Cabrera
Pablo Mendez-Pfeiffer
Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal
Brenda Velasco-Rodríguez
Patricia D. Martínez-Flores
Sergio Silva-Bea
Vicente Domínguez-Arca
Gerardo Prieto
Silvia Barbosa
Ana Otero
Pablo Taboada
Josué Juárez
author_facet Marisol Gastelum-Cabrera
Pablo Mendez-Pfeiffer
Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal
Brenda Velasco-Rodríguez
Patricia D. Martínez-Flores
Sergio Silva-Bea
Vicente Domínguez-Arca
Gerardo Prieto
Silvia Barbosa
Ana Otero
Pablo Taboada
Josué Juárez
author_sort Marisol Gastelum-Cabrera
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show promises as antimicrobial biomaterials with use for combating multidrug-resistant microorganisms, and they are widely used in healthcare, medicine, and food industries. However, traditional physicochemical synthesis methods often require harsh conditions and toxic reagents, generating harmful waste. The synthesis of AgNPs using plant-derived bioactive compounds offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, a bio-green approach was employed to synthesize AgNPs using ethanolic extracts from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i> leaves (EXT-<i>AL</i>). The synthesis was optimized under different pH conditions (5.5, 8.0, 10.0) and EXT-<i>AL</i> concentrations (10–200 μg/mL). Antibacterial activity was evaluated against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and cytotoxicity was assessed in HeLa, CaCo-2, T731-GFP, and HaCaT cell lines. <b>Results:</b> UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle formation, with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 410 nm. Alkaline conditions (pH 10.0) favored the formation of smaller, spherical AgNPs. Characterization by DLS, TEM, and AFM revealed uniform nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 93.48 ± 1.88 nm and a zeta potential of −37.80 ± 1.28 mV. The AgNPs remained stable in Milli-Q water but tended to aggregate in PBS, DMEM, and MHB media. Antibacterial assays demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> at 3.9 μg/mL (Ag⁺ equivalent). Cytotoxicity tests showed no toxicity to HeLa, T731-GFP, CaCo-2, or HaCaT cells at concentrations ≥ 7.8 μg/mL after 24 h. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings highlight <i>Antigonon leptopus</i> extract as a sustainable and cost-effective resource for AgNPs synthesis, with strong antimicrobial properties and potential biomedical applications.
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spelling doaj-art-42497c6aab9646e19104f3059cc7784e2025-08-20T01:56:35ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-05-0117567210.3390/pharmaceutics17050672Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic PropertiesMarisol Gastelum-Cabrera0Pablo Mendez-Pfeiffer1Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal2Brenda Velasco-Rodríguez3Patricia D. Martínez-Flores4Sergio Silva-Bea5Vicente Domínguez-Arca6Gerardo Prieto7Silvia Barbosa8Ana Otero9Pablo Taboada10Josué Juárez11Posgrado en Nanotecnología, Departamento de Física, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Centro, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, MexicoDepartamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca 83600, Sonora, MexicoDepartamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Caborca 83600, Sonora, MexicoGrupo de Física de Coloides y Polímeros, Departamento de Física de Partículas, Facultad de Física, Instituto de Materiales (IMATUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainPosgrado en Nanotecnología, Departamento de Física, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Centro, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Biología-Centro de Investigación en Salud Acuática (ARCUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainGrupo de Física de Coloides y Polímeros, Departamento de Física de Partículas, Facultad de Física, Instituto de Materiales (IMATUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainGrupo de Física de Coloides y Polímeros, Departamento de Física de Partículas, Facultad de Física, Instituto de Materiales (IMATUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainGrupo de Física de Coloides y Polímeros, Departamento de Física de Partículas, Facultad de Física, Instituto de Materiales (IMATUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Biología-Centro de Investigación en Salud Acuática (ARCUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainGrupo de Física de Coloides y Polímeros, Departamento de Física de Partículas, Facultad de Física, Instituto de Materiales (IMATUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainPosgrado en Nanotecnología, Departamento de Física, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Centro, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico<b>Background:</b> Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show promises as antimicrobial biomaterials with use for combating multidrug-resistant microorganisms, and they are widely used in healthcare, medicine, and food industries. However, traditional physicochemical synthesis methods often require harsh conditions and toxic reagents, generating harmful waste. The synthesis of AgNPs using plant-derived bioactive compounds offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, a bio-green approach was employed to synthesize AgNPs using ethanolic extracts from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i> leaves (EXT-<i>AL</i>). The synthesis was optimized under different pH conditions (5.5, 8.0, 10.0) and EXT-<i>AL</i> concentrations (10–200 μg/mL). Antibacterial activity was evaluated against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and cytotoxicity was assessed in HeLa, CaCo-2, T731-GFP, and HaCaT cell lines. <b>Results:</b> UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle formation, with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 410 nm. Alkaline conditions (pH 10.0) favored the formation of smaller, spherical AgNPs. Characterization by DLS, TEM, and AFM revealed uniform nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 93.48 ± 1.88 nm and a zeta potential of −37.80 ± 1.28 mV. The AgNPs remained stable in Milli-Q water but tended to aggregate in PBS, DMEM, and MHB media. Antibacterial assays demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> at 3.9 μg/mL (Ag⁺ equivalent). Cytotoxicity tests showed no toxicity to HeLa, T731-GFP, CaCo-2, or HaCaT cells at concentrations ≥ 7.8 μg/mL after 24 h. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings highlight <i>Antigonon leptopus</i> extract as a sustainable and cost-effective resource for AgNPs synthesis, with strong antimicrobial properties and potential biomedical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/5/672phytosynthesissilver nanoparticlesantibacterial activitycytotoxic properties<i>Antigonon leptopus</i>
spellingShingle Marisol Gastelum-Cabrera
Pablo Mendez-Pfeiffer
Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal
Brenda Velasco-Rodríguez
Patricia D. Martínez-Flores
Sergio Silva-Bea
Vicente Domínguez-Arca
Gerardo Prieto
Silvia Barbosa
Ana Otero
Pablo Taboada
Josué Juárez
Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties
Pharmaceutics
phytosynthesis
silver nanoparticles
antibacterial activity
cytotoxic properties
<i>Antigonon leptopus</i>
title Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties
title_full Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties
title_fullStr Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties
title_full_unstemmed Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties
title_short Phytosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from <i>Antigonon leptopus</i>: Assessment of Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties
title_sort phytosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles from i antigonon leptopus i assessment of antibacterial and cytotoxic properties
topic phytosynthesis
silver nanoparticles
antibacterial activity
cytotoxic properties
<i>Antigonon leptopus</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/5/672
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