Tailoring shape and size of biogenic silver nanoparticles to enhance antimicrobial efficacy against MDR bacteria

Spherical, rectangular, penta, and hexagonal silver nanoparticles of different dimensions were biosynthesized in an eco-friendly manner by biocontrol agent, Trichoderma viride by manipulating physical parameters, pH, temperature, and reaction time. The particles were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy; Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR). Shape and size dependent antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles against human pathogens was observed. Maximum inhibition was found with spherical nanoparticles (2–5 nm) showing 40, 51, 43, 53.9 and 55.8% against Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively, where as pentagonal and hexagonal nanoparticles (50–100 nm) demonstrated 32, 41, 31, 42.84 and 42.80% of inhibition as compared to control. Nanoparticles of different geometry and dimension established enhanced antagonistic activity against pathogens with all the tested antibiotics. Excellent antimicrobial efficacy was obtained with spherical nanoparticles of 2–5 nm with ampicillin and penicillin. Shape and size played major role in enhancing antimicrobial potential of silver nanoparticles, both singly and synergistically with antibiotics which can be exploited to combat the spread of multidrug resistant pathogens. [Display omitted] •By varying physico-chemical conditions of the reaction, different shape and sizes of silver nanoparticles were obtained.•Physical parameters are interdependent and responsible for bioengineering of nanoparticles.•Shape and size dependent antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles against human pathogens was observed.•Spherical (2–5 nm) nanoparticles were showing maximum antimicrobial activity against all five selected human pathogens.•Spherical nanoparticles shows maximum efficacy with antibiotics against multi drug resistant bacteria Serratiamarcescens.