Aloe Vera gel extract and sunlight mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles with highly effective antibacterial and anticancer activity

In this study, a single-step method for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Aloe Vera gel extract and sunlight was investigated. The Aloe Vera gel extract is composed of pectins, lignin, and hemicellulose, which can be used in the reduction of silver ions to produce colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-AV). The preliminary preparation of silver nanoparticles was observed by an immediate color change to brown. The prepared silver nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements. Additionally, the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of AgNPs-AV was tested. Results indicated the formation of stable spherical 90±40nm with a strong absorption peak appears between 400 and 500 nm. 28.7 ±0.781% of breast cancer cells survived after incubation with AgNPs-AV invitro for 72 hrs. In addition to AgNPs-AV inhibited the growth of the most important human skin pathogens (candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). The largest inhibition zone was observed for candida albicans. This method for synthesis is very fast, produces spherical colloidal silver nanoparticles having an excellent antioxidant activity, high anticancer therapeutic index and very promising antibacterial activity. This greenly synthesized nano-formulation has a great potential to be explored in many different aspects.