Seaweed-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Gracilaria corticata for its antifungal activity against Candida spp.

The present study was demonstrated with simple and rapid synthesis of silver (Ag) nanoparticles using marine seaweed, Gracilaria corticata. The visibility of prominent color change at 60 °C within 20 min indicates the formation of Ag nanoparticles. The synthesized Ag nanoparticles were well characterized by UV–vis spectrum, Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering measurements (DLS). Prominent FTIR peaks were obtained corresponding to phenolic compounds, amide I group and aromatic rings which involved in the stabilization of Ag nanoparticles. G. corticata resulted in spherical shaped nanospheres of 18–46 nm as revealed by TEM. The average size distributions of Ag nanoparticles were 51.82 nm and are fairly stable with a zeta potential value of −26.2 mV. The result showed that, biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles from G. corticata have an effective antifungal activity against Candida albicans and C. glabrata.