Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using flower extracts

Abstract

Nanotechnology makes it possible to transform macroscopic materials on a nanometric scale, preserving their chemical properties and enhancing their reactivity, thanks to the significant increase in surface area and the unique characteristics acquired on this scale. These characteristics make nanotechnology an essential tool for developing sustainable and innovative applications in agriculture, such as the antimicrobial action of some nanoparticles. One notable example is silver nanoparticles, which have shown great potential for promoting improvements in agriculture, offering promising prospects for the sustainable management of pathogens and the optimization of agricultural production. However, the conventional synthesis of nanoparticles can cause environmental impacts due to the chemical compounds used in the process. Green synthesis, on the other hand, uses natural substances to produce nanoparticles, minimizing the damage caused to the environment. Green synthesis, using flower extracts, has advantages such as less environmental impact, as well as being a faster and simpler process. The aim of this study was to explore the efficiency of silver nanoparticle synthesis using Dahlia pinnata flower extract, as well as to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of these nanoparticles, assessing their properties and their potential use in agriculture. The effectiveness of the synthesis was assessed by means of laboratory tests that were able to size the nanoparticles according to commercial and literature sources. These tests consisted of the use of Zeta-sizer and UV-visible equipment, and the results obtained were significant for the continuation of the work. To observe the effectiveness of the antimicrobial effects of the compounds tested, precise tests were carried out in the laboratory, in which it was possible to observe in detail the growth of the pathogens in Petri dishes containing the compounds incorporated into the culture media, demonstrating the effectiveness of the control of pathogens with the silver nanoparticles.