SYNTHESIS OF ECO - FRIENDLY SILVER NANOPARTICLES BY ONION PEELS EXTRACT AND EVALUATION OF ITS SYNERGISTIC BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITIES WITH ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

: Synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts is a simple, and convenient method that reduces the use of toxic chemicals. In this study, onion peels aqueous extract was successfully used as a bioreduction agent to prepare Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) by a cost-effective and eco-friendly green method. The AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UV-Vis was showed a peak at 425 nm. XRD confirmed the structure of AgNPs for the prepared sample. SEM showed the nanosized nature of the prepared Nanoparticles which have a spherical structure and particle size average (51.21nm). The antibacterial activity of AgNPs and their synergistic effects with antibiotics were evaluated against four common hospitalacquired pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus). The results showed a high antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against the studied pathogens and a synergistic bactericidal effect of vancomycin in combination with AgNPs against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.