Potencial formador de AgNPs de extrato aquoso de crajiru (Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) B. Verlot), planta medicinal da região amazônica

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a vast interdisciplinary field and this area of research and development has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of sectors. Metallic nanoparticles belong to this group and have been widely investigated due to their microbicidal potential. Among the nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stand out for their broad spectrum and low probability of inducing microbial resistance. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential for forming AgNPs by aqueous plant extracts of crajiru under different conditions of pH, temperature and extract concentration. The characterization of the aqueous crajiru extract was analysed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, making it possible to see how the synthesis conditions can affect the production of nanoparticles. The synthesis conditions in alkaline media using diluted concentrations of aqueous crajiru extract showed bands related to the formation of more intense nanostructures of varying sizes, indicating the production of nanoparticles with larger diameters as the reaction progressed to acidic and neutral media. Increasing the temperature of the reaction medium caused a decrease in the quantity of nanoparticles formed, favoring the reduction of silver carried out at room temperature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed the relationship between temperature, concentration and pH with the characteristics of the AgNPs produced. Notably, the smaller diameter nanoparticles showed greater efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, in line with previous findings in the literature. These results underscore the potential of crajiru-derived AgNPs as antimicrobial agents and highlight the importance of optimizing synthesis conditions to maximize their desired properties. Thus, this study contributes significantly to the advancement of knowledge in nanotechnology and to the development of new biomaterials with promising applications in various areas, including health and technology.