Synthesis of silk sericin stabilized silver (Ag-Ser) nanoparticles using Tollens’ method and investigation of its colloidal stability

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <p>In this study, sericin extracted from <italic>Bombyx mori</italic> silk cocoons was integrated into the well-known Tollens’ method for synthesizing Ag-NPs. Sericin successfully acted as a stabilizer while silver amine complex [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ was reduced by maltose. As a result, silver nanoparticles with high stability are formed. Possible functional groups related to the stabilization of NPs were investigated by Fourier-transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Ag-Ser NPs were characterized by using particle size measurements based on dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to the characterization investigations, Ag-Ser NPs have characteristic (111) face-centered cubic (FFC) plane and were spherical in shape with a narrow size distribution of 20.23 ±6.25 nm. Overall, the sericin-modified Tollens’ method for synthesizing Ag-NPs offers a simple and non-toxic production method to form nanoparticles. Colloidal stability of nanoparticles displays an essential role since their enhanced nano-properties can be diminished by an increase in size due to aggregation and agglomeration. Therefore, the effect of pH on particle stability was investigated through the surface charge of Ag-Ser NPs that was measured using a Zeta-potential analyzer. Results obtained from this study may extend the applicability of silver nanoparticles in biotechnological researches and a potential synthesis route for the application of Ag-Ser NPs as aseptic and therapeutic usages.</p>