Antimicrobial and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Cellulose/Silver-Nanocomposites with In Situ Generated Silver Nanoparticles Using Cissampelos Pareira Leaf Extract

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were in situ generated on the surface of cellulose matrix using leaf extract of cissampelos pareira (LCP) by environmentally benign green synthesis. The morphological and structural properties of synthesized cellulose silver nanocomposites (Cel/LCP/Ag-NCs) were characterized by different spectral studies such as UV–visible spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, AFM, DRS, PL, Lifetime, XPS and XRD. Silver nanoparticles were obtained in the cellulose matrix with an average size of 34.26 nm and with antioxidant activity which has been evaluated by ABTS (70.34% at 100 µg/mL) and DPPH (81.65% at 100 µg/mL) methods. The antimicrobial properties of cellulose, Cel/LCP, Cel/LCP (10 mM, 30 mM and 50 mM AgNO 3 ), tested on 13 microorganisms were determined using disk diffusion method. The most effective nanocomposites (Cel/LCP/10, 30 and 50 mM AgNO 3 ), Cel/LCP/50 mM AgNO 3 afforded the best antimicrobial properties because increasing the concentration of AgNO 3 solution, the zone of inhibition also increased. The prepared cellulose silver nanocomposites synthesized by leaf extract of cissampelos pareira shows the potential to be applied in the future development of therapeutics and biomedical applications.