Abstract :

1. Article title Silver nanoparticles biosynthesis using an airborne fungal isolate, Aspergillus flavus: optimization, characterization and antibacterial activity 2. Article author or authors Aram Al-Soub, Khaled Khleifat, Amjad Al-Tarawneh, Muhamad Al-limoun, Ibrahim Alfarrayeh,Ahmad Al Sarayreh, Yaseen Al Qaisi, Haitham Qaralleh, Moath Alqaraleh, Anas Albashaireh 3. Name of journal and date of publication Iranian Journal of Microbiology 2022 4. Article abstract. Background and Objectives: Nanoscience is one of the most important branches of modern science, which deals withthe knowledge, structure, and properties of nanoparticles. This study aimed to investigate the ability of an airborne fungus (Aspergillus flavus) to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and to test the antibacterial activity of the synthesizedAgNPs.Materials and Methods: The confirmation of AgNPs synthesis and the characterization of their properties were done usingUV-Vis spectrophotometer, Zeta potential, Zeta sizer, FT-IR, and XRD analyses. The antibacterial activity was determinedusing broth microdilution method.Results: The findings showed that the average diameter of the resultant AgNPs was 474.2 nm with a PDI value of 0.27,and the zeta potential was -33.8 mV. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the AgNPs were regular andspherical in shape. TEM micrographs demonstrated that the AgNPs were smaller than those that were observed by DLSexamination because the drying process resulted in particle shrinkage. The average size of AgNPs were less than 35 nm. TheAgNPs exhibited a remarkable antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, E. cloacae, S. aureus, S. epidermidis,and Shigella sp., and the MIC values ranged from 25 to 100 µg/mL. However, an exception was P. aeruginosa in which itsMIC was >125 µg/mL.Conclusion: The results suggest that, the biosynthesized AgNPs by A. flavus could be utilized as a source of potent antibacterial agents in medicine and biotechnological applications.