The green synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activities of silver nanoparticles synthesized from green alga Enteromorpha flexuosa (wulfen) J. Agardh

In the recent decades, development of green nanotechnology is generating interest of researchers toward ecofriendly biosynthesis of nanoparticles, because of its incredible applications in all fields of science. In this study, to explore the novel approaches for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, the seaweed Enteromorpha flexuosa (wulfen) J. Agardh extract was mixed with silver nitrate to synthesize silver nanoparticles. The reduced silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles of E. flexuosa exhibited high antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and low activity against the Gram-negative organisms. The algae materials mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles have comparatively rapid, less expensive and wide applications to antimicrobial therapy in modern medicine. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.