Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in <i>Psidium Guajava</i> (Guava) Leaf Extract for Antibacterial Textiles

Abstract

Textiles, an integral part of everyday clothing, are exposed to varied sources of dirt, leading to bacterial accumulation and cross-contamination. As such, antibacterial textile has become a widespread research interest. One method to create antibacterial textiles is the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (NPs) due to their efficacy in stopping multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. However, most synthesis techniques in producing silver NPs are complex and expensive. Guava leaf extracts (GE) have a high quantity of metabolites and carbohydrates that can reduce and stabilize silver (Ag) ions. Guava leaves also have an innate antimicrobial property, making them highly compatible with biomedical applications. This study synthesized Ag NPs using Ag nitrate and Ag acetate as Ag precursors and guava leaves extract as reducing agents to create an antimicrobial fabric. The green synthesis successfully produced spherical Ag NPs with mean diameters around 24 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis confirmed the formation of Ag NPs after the reaction. The Ag NPs were deposited on cotton fabrics, which showed significant antibacterial activity even after 5 washings. Generally, the Ag NPs synthesized with larger amounts of guava leaves extract showed larger clearing zones, indicating better antimicrobial activity.