title: Sunlight mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles using redox phytoprotein and their application in catalysis and colorimetric mercury sensing.
abstract: Owing to the benign nature, plant extracts mediated green synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) is rapidly expanding. In this study, we demonstrated the successful green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by utilizing natural sunlight and redox protein complex composed of ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase (FNR) and ferredoxin (FD). The capping and stabilization of the AgNPs by the redox protein was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Light and redox protein is the prerequisite factor for the formation of AgNPs. The obtained result shows that the photo generated free radicals by the redox protein is responsible for the reduction of Ag(+) to Ag(0). Transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of spherical AgNPs with size ranging from 10 to 15 nm. As-prepared AgNPs exhibit excellent catalytic activity toward the degradation of hazardous organic dyes, such as methylene blue, methyl orange and methyl red. These bio-inspired AgNPs is highly sensitive and selective in sensing hazardous mercury ions in the water at micromolar concentration. In addition, FNR/FD extract stabilized AgNPs showed good antimicrobial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Khan Behlol Ayaz
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rajendran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Senthilnathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sengan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Megarajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: anbazhagan@scbt.sastra.edu.
authors.forename: Veerappan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anbazhagan
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002384:Catalysis; D005287:Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / Q000737:chemistry; D005288:Ferredoxins / Q000737:chemistry; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013472:Sunlight; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001391:Azo Compounds; D005288:Ferredoxins; D012834:Silver; C008492:methyl red; C100258:methyl orange; D005287:Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase; D008628:Mercury; D008751:Methylene Blue
keywords: Catalysis; Phyto-protein; Sensor; Silver nanoparticles; Sunlight