Green preparation of nano-silver aqueous solution using fructose and evaluation of its antibacterial potential for cut carnation flowers

The green synthesis of nano-silver (NS) has gained increasing attention owing to its cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Herein, a novel one-step green preparation method of stable NS aqueous solution using Tollens reagent as the silver ion source, D-fructose as the reduction agent, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone as the stabilizing and capping agent is reported. The prepared NS solution had a pH value of 7.10, with approximately spherical NS particles in the range of 13.95-87.36 nm. The resulting NS solution was stable under normal temperature, boiling water bath, and acidic environment. The NS solution had a remarkable absorption peak at 410 nm in its ultraviolet-visible spectrum. The dynamic light scattering/Zeta analysis showed the average particle size of the NS aqueous solution was 183.5 nm, polymer dispersion index was 0.282, and the zeta potential of the green synthesized NS was -18.0 mV. Moreover, the NS solution exerted a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of the bacteria isolated from the vase water of cut carnation 'Prince' flowers. These findings indicate that the obtained NS solution is potentially a practical and effective antibacterial agent for preserving cut carnations and other cut flowers.

Automated summary

The green synthesis of stable NS aqueous solution using Tollens reagent, D-fructose, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone shows remarkable antibacterial properties, making it a practical and effective agent for preserving cut flowers.