Synthesis and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles with different sizes

Silver nanoparticles with different sizes (7, 29, and 89 nm mean values) were synthesized using gallic acid in an aqueous chemical reduction method. The nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy; the antibacterial activity was assessed using the standard microdilution method, determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. From the microscopies studies (TEM) we observed that silver nanoparticles have spherical (7 and 29 nm) and pseudospherical shape (89 nm) with a narrow size distribution. The sizes of the silver nanoparticles were controlled by varying some experimental conditions. It was found that the antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles varies when their size diminishes.