Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using sun-dried mulberry leaf.

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been successfully conducted by reduction of silver nitrate with sun-dried mulberry leaf. Such AgNPs have been characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that such dispersed, uniform and spherical AgNPs would not aggregate under high-concentration NaCl solution and have good antibacterial activity. It was suggested that the polyol components (such as polyhydroxylated alkaloids) and protein residues of mulberry leaf should be mainly responsible for the stabilization of AgNPs. Such AgNPs produced by the environmentally friendly method have the potential for use in antibacterial and medical applications.