ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Investigating the therapeutic properties of crystalline Ag nanoparticles prepared by an efficient citrus fruit extract method

Ritu Kumari, Vivek Kumar, Prabhat Kumar, and Kakali Sarkar

Department of Zoology, Murarka College, Sultanganj, India

E-mail: kakaliece.nano@gmail.com

Received: 24 June 2025  Accepted: 13 December 2025

Abstract:

In the present study, an eco-friendly synthesis route was adopted for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) utilizing citrus fruit extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The primary objective of this research is to establish a sustainable methodology for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their structural characteristics, as well as their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Advanced analytical techniques, including XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, UV–Visible spectroscopy, and EDX, were utilized to confirm crystallinity, functional group contributions, and nanoparticle size. The crystallite size of silver nanoparticles was measured 17 nm, approximately. FTIR spectroscopy identified molecular bonding within the normal range of 627 cm^{− 1} to 3787 cm^{− 1}. HRTEM analysis revealed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with an average particle size of 16 nm (approximately), while EDX and elemental mapping confirmed the presence of silver in the synthesized nanomaterials. UV–Visible spectroscopy of the as-synthesized Ag nanoparticles showed a surface plasmon resonance at approximately 433 nm and a band gap of 1.94 eV. The antibacterial potential of Ag NPs was evaluated using MIC values against S. aureus (SA87) and E. coli (EC19), investigating their enhanced interactions with different bacterial strains. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was also assessed to highlight their dual functionality, paving the way for potential therapeutic applications in infection control and oxidative stress management. Antimicrobial testing revealed higher efficacy of Ag NPs against EC19 (MIC: 50.9 µg/ml) than SA87 (MIC: 68.7 µg/ml). Antioxidant assays confirmed their dual functionality, attributing bacterial inhibition and radical scavenging to enhanced surface reactivity, consistent with prior studies.

Keywords: Green synthesis; Silver; XRD; Antimicrobial; Antioxidant

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04603-6

Chemical Papers 80 (5) 4973–4984 (2026)