Eri silk fibroin derived silver nanoparticles for antibacterial and photocatalytic applications

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are successfully developed using Eri Silk Fibroin. Eri Silk Fibroin, extracted from Eri Silk produced by Eri Silkworm (Samia ricini), has been used as a reducing as well as stabilising agent under green protocol. Formation of AgNPs has been confirmed by the absorbance peak about at 450 nm analysed by UV–vis spectroscopy and also supported by the diffraction peaks at 27.83, 32.15, 38.08, and 46.06⁰ recorded through X-ray diffractometer. FTIR determines the alteration of β-sheet at 1220 cm⁻¹ (amide III), revealing the formation of the AgNPs. Further, TEM analyses the spherical shape of AgNPs with an average particle size of 20 nm. Synthesised AgNPs have been studied for antibacterial activity and photocatalytic degradation of dyes. Five different bacteria were chosen to analyse the impact of ESF@AgNPs on their growth kinetics. Moreover, methylene blue (MB) and congo red (CR) are found to be degraded efficiently to 86 and 88 % in 140 min, respectively. Thus, this research reveals a novel method for the synthesis of AgNPs using Eri Silk Fibroin in the line of sustainable development.