Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Loaded with Tetracycline and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Properties

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using plant extracts exhibit promising medical applications. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized from silver nitrate in the presence of iris flower extract, in which various parts of the plant—including leaves, roots, seeds, stems, and fruits—rich in antioxidants, were employed for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. Tetracycline (Tetra) was subsequently loaded onto the surface of the silver nanoparticles to produce the Tetra–AgNP nanocomposite. The structural and morphological features of the Tetra–AgNP nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The crystalline nature of both the AgNPs and the Tetra–AgNP nanocomposites was confirmed by XRD analysis. FT-IR results demonstrated that the silver nanoparticles were coated with the plant extract and successfully loaded with the Tetra drug. TEM images revealed that the Tetra–AgNP nanocomposites exhibited an average particle size of 63.78 nm with a spherical morphology. SEM images confirmed a needle–aggregate morphology for both the AgNPs and Tetra–AgNPs. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of AgNPs and Tetra–AgNP nanocomposites was evaluated using the normal DH5α cell line. The findings suggest that Tetra–AgNP nanocomposites are suitable candidates for drug delivery applications