ACHYRANTHES ASPERA MEDIATED GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES

Bio-inspired AgNPs were rapidly synthesized at room temperature using fresh aqueous leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera. A green and low cost synthesis was effective in the formation of stable crystalline NPs in the solution. Carboxylic, ketone and aldehyde groups present in the A. aspera leaf extract functioned as reducing as well as stabilizing agent to produce shape controlled AgNPs. SPR confirmed the formation of AgNPs in UV-Visible spectra at 450 nm. The XRD result also showed the presence of elemental Ag+ as a crystalline nature and the FT-IR analysis was carried out to identify and study the functional groups responsible for the bioreduction of Ag+ . TEM and SEM with EDX image showed spherical crystalline AgNPs. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to measure the weight loss of AgNPs as a function of temperature under a controlled atmosphere. Hence, the plant-based bio AgNPs could be used in biomedical applications. Keywords: Achyranthes aspera, Biosynthesis, AgNPs