Protocol optimization for a fast, simple and economical chemical reduction synthesis of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles in non-specialized facilities

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can be difficult or expensive to obtain or synthesize for laboratories in resource-limited facilities. The purpose of this work was to optimize a synthesis method for a fast, facile, and cost-effective synthesis of AgNPs with antimicrobial activity, which can be readily implemented in non-specialized facilities and laboratories.

The optimized method uses a rather simple and rapid chemical reduction process that involves the addition of a polyvinylpyrrolidone solution to a warmed silver nitrate solution under constant vigorous stirring, immediately followed by the addition of sodium borohydride. The total synthesis time is less than 15 min. The obtained AgNPs exhibit an aspect ratio close to 1, with an average size of 6.18 ± 5 nm. AgNPs displayed potent antimicrobial activity, with Minimal Inhibitory Concentration values of ≤ 4 µg mL-1 for Staphylococcus aureus and ≤ 2 µg mL-1 for Candida albicans. The resulting method is robust and highly reproducible, as demonstrated by the characterization of AgNPs from different rounds of syntheses and their antimicrobial activity.