Eco-friendly high-rate formation of silver nanoparticles in agave inulin and its bactericidal effect against Escherichia coli

A high rate of silver nanoparticle formation, effective against the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium, was obtained for the first time by means of a simple, eco-friendly, and low-cost green method in a solution of agave inulin. The study was carried out using the traditional method, in which the effects of the concentration of agave inulin, AgNO₃, temperature, and pH on the synthesis were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Most of the nanoparticles produced were spherical with a size less than 10 nm. In a sample with 20 mg/mL of agave inulin, 1 mM of AgNO₃, T = 23°C, and pH = 12, the highest percentage of Ag⁺ ions available in the solution were reduced for the formation of nanoparticles in less than 40 min, whereas a sample prepared with 60 mg/mL of agave inulin, 10 mM of AgNO₃, T = 23°C, pH = 12, and a storage time of 40 min showed a significant bactericidal effect on the E. coli strain. Agave inulin is a good biological compound for the formation of small, spherical silver nanoparticles. A pH of 12 favors a higher production speed of the silver nanoparticles and better use of the available Ag⁺ ions. In addition to this, the concentration of AgNO₃ is a determining factor for increased formation of the nanoparticles necessary to bactericidal effect.