Green synthesized multifunctional Ag@Fe2O3 nanocomposites for effective antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer propertiesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Tauc plots, statistical data of antimicrobial activity/cytotoxicity, images of the cytotoxic effect of the NPs, and DNA cleavage study. See DOI: 10.1039/c7nj01849e

Multifunctional Ag@Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles were synthesized by employing a green Adathoda vasica leaf extract assisted process. The synthesized nanoparticles were subjected to FTIR, UV-Vis, PXRD and HRTEM measurements for chemical, structural and morphological studies. It is found that vasicine/quinazoline alkaloids present in the extract are responsible for the stability of the nanoparticles. The green synthesized Ag@Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles showed excellent antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activity. The green synthesized Ag@Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles showed better antibacterial activity against Gram positive as well as Gram negative bacteria as compared to previous communications. They have less hazardous effects because of the involvement of the leaf extract in the synthesis of the nanoparticles rather than hazardous chemicals. The present investigation points out that the synthesized nanoparticles are promising in targeted drug delivery systems, bactericides and fungicides, and may be used for magnetic hyperthermia cancer therapy. We propose the green synthesis of Ag@Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites for excellent antibacterial activity with MIC ≤ 20 mg ml −1 for E. coli and S. aureus bacteria.