Synthesis, properties, and uses of silver nanoparticles obtained from leaf extracts.

FIORELLA TULLI; ANA BELÉN CISNEROS; MAURO NICOLÁS GALLUCCI; MARÍA BEATRIZ ESPECHE TURBAY; VALENTINA REY; CLAUDIO D. BORSARRELLI

Nanobiotechnology for Plant Protection

Elsevier

Año: 2022; p. 317 - 357

The vegetable kingdom, with approximately 300,000 species of plants available on the planet, is an abundant source of phytomolecules with reducing and stabilizing properties suitable for the production of metal nanoparticles by eco-friendly and economical synthetic routes. This is the case for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using plant leaf extracts, which has become a developing research field due to optical, electrical, magnetic, catalytic, bio(medical), and antimicrobial applications of the resulting nanocomposites.The goal of this chapter is to bring to the readers a general outlook and the current state of the art of the green synthesis of AgNPs using leaf extracts with different types of phytochemicals, considering experimental conditions to control the final size, shape, and homogeneity of the AgNPs. The current interest in the leaf extractmediated synthesis of AgNPs is not only promoted by the optical, electrical, magnetic, and antimicrobial intrinsic properties of the metal nanoparticle, but also by the synergic benefits of the incorporation of suitable phytochemicals that allow the assembly of new green nanocomposites for utilization in electronic components, cryogenic superconducting materials, (bio)sensor materials, cosmetic products, and antimicrobial composites, among others In this chapter, we have revised and discussed recent literature describing the use of harvested plant leaves as a source of phytochemicals for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and describe synthetic methods, characteristics, properties, and applications of the green-prepared nanocomposites. Finally, it is noteworthy to mention that the use of leaf extracts as a naturally occurring media for the preparation of metal nanoparticles is a growing field with a large potential for multiple applications.