Micromeria biflora mediated gold and silver nanoparticles for colourimetric detection of antibiotics and dyes degradation

Abstract

The study reports on synthesis of aqueous extract mediated gold and silver nanoparticles of M. biflora (MBAuNPs and MBAgNPs) via hydrated chloroauric acid and silver nitrate salts. The nanoparticles (NPs) were produced in 1:15 (MBAuNPs) and 1:6 (MBAgNPs) ratios under sunlight displaying localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks at 541 and 431 nm, respectively. The sizes characterized by transmission electron, scanning electron, and atomic force microscopic (SEM, TEM, AFM) techniques were respectively 26.73 nm and 53.81 nm. The subject NPs demonstrated application in the degradation of methylene blue, Congo red, Rhodamine B, methyl orange, ortho-nitrophenol, and para-nitrophenol ranging from 65 to 86 %. For detection of levofloxacin, amoxicillin, and azithromycin antibiotics, the MBAuNPs and MBAgNPs exhibited efficiency in real water and biological (blood plasma and urine) samples. Conclusively, the MBAuNPs and MBAgNPs applications for dyes degradation and antibiotics detection was found as simple and cost-effective analytical method.

Keywords

• Micromeria biflora
• MBAuNPs
• MBAgNPs
• Methylene blue
• Amoxicillin