Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles from Ziziphus nummularia Fruit Extract: Effect on Hair Growth Rate and Activity against Selected Bacterial and Fungal Strains

Abstract

Nanoparticles are extensively used in biomedical and biotechnological research. Their large surface area, excellent physical properties, high permeability, and retention effect make them ideal for biomedical applications including diagnosis and treatment. Silver nanoparticles proved to be the safest for therapeutic uses. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared using various ratios of Ziziphus nummularia fruit extract and silver nitrate solution. The nanoparticles were investigated for hair growth and antibacterial and antifungal activities. Characterization of AgNPs was done by using UV-spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), thermogravimeter (TG), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and master sizer. UV-spectrophotometer results showed the best ratio 10 : 10 of Z. nummularia fruit aqueous extract to silver solution for nanoparticle production at 400 to 430 nm wavelength. The size of AgNPs was 40 nm as measured by SEM. Characterization of AgNPs through EDX resulted in a silver peak at 3 keV. In contrast, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) spectra show that the AgNPs are stable up to 160°C. The XED spectra gave 12 nm size of crystallite at 2 theta degree angle. FTIR bands for the metal oxides were recorded at 665 cm-1. Weight loss of the prepared nanoparticles was observed due to moisture loss when subjected to TGA, whereas particle size distribution 0.1 μm to 0.17 μm was recorded by the master seizer. The Z. nummularia fruit aqueous extract-mediated AgNPs were noted highly effective against Gram-positive bacteria compared to ethanolic, methanolic, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts of Z. nummularia fruit. The Gram-negative bacteria fungal species showed less sensitivity to AgNPs. The hair growth activity was observed to be higher for AgNPs followed by minoxidil than ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Z. nummularia fruit. These findings have concluded that Z. nummularia-AgNPs have an effective hair growth activity and exhibit several applications in distinctive biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.