Introduction

Utilizing organic biowaste to produce nanoparticles has become of great interest in the field of nanotechnology. Nanomaterials produced through this green route are non-toxic, and the process is environmentally friendly. In this project, we synthesized stable and well-defined silver nanoparticles and nanocomposite films using organic biowaste such as banana peels, chikoo peels, and lemon peels. The synthesis methodology and their application as antibacterial and catalytic agents were investigated.

Method

The formation of silver nanoparticles was achieved using biowaste extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. Sodium alginate–polyvinyl alcohol–silver nanocomposites were prepared by crosslinking using glutaraldehyde. All the materials were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Their antibacterial properties were assessed against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Eschericia coli.

Results

The color change to black with the addition of NaOH indicated the formation of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles exhibited a strong plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at around 400 nm, confirming their presence. The peak was sharp and narrow, indicating low polydispersity. The nanocomposite films were effective against the bacteria tested, especially Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Conclusion:

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using biowaste yielded promising results, such as the creation of flexible films. The re-use and application of the nanocomposite films in the proliferation of fibroblast cells are currently in progress.