Effectiveness of pH and amount of Artemia urumiana extract on physical, chemical, and biological attributes of UV-fabricated biogold nanoparticles

Abstract Artemia urumiana extract was prepared and used in gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) synthesis via ultraviolet radiation accelerated technique. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effects of amount of extract (2–8 mL) and its pH (6.5–10.5) on the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and antioxidant activity of the fabricated Au NPs. Obtained results revealed that Au NPs with small particle size (61 nm) and PDI (0.387), and high zeta potential (−18.8 mV) and antioxidant activity (13.25%) were fabricated using 5.4 mL of the prepared A. urumiana extract with a pH value of 10.5. These optimum conditions were used in Au NPs synthesis, and NPs characteristics were assessed. Results indicated that the colloidal solution containing synthesized Au NPs had a broad emission peak at a wavelength of 562 nm. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy analysis show that the fabricated spherical NPs had a mean particle size of 25 nm. Finally, bactericidal effects of the fabricated Au NPs were assessed against four selected bacteria strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and results indicated that synthesized NPs had strong antibacterial activity toward those, with clear zone diameters of 16, 17, 11, and 17 mm, respectively.