Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity studies of β-lactam capped silver nanoparticles

A highly efficient, novel, two-phase liquid method using phase transfer catalyst is reported to prepare β-lactam-conjugated silver nanoparticles as an approach to improve antibacterial activity of β-lactams. In the method assisted by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, NaBH₄ reduced AgNO₃ producing silver NPs that are coated with β-lactams. The studies conducted provide a generalized method applicable to all types of β-lactam substrates for capping on silver NPs. The NPs have been characterized by UV–Visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering methods.