Novel approach to synthesis silver nanoparticles using plant pathogenic fungi, Puccinia graminis

In the present work, we first report a low-cost, eco-friendly and simple procedure for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using plant fungus Puccinia graminis as reducing and capping agent. UV–vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, FESEM and NC-AFM analyses were performed to confirm the formation of nanoparticles. Biologically synthesized Ag NPs showed UV peak at 427 nm with surface plasmon resonance found similar to silver. The FTIR spectra of Ag NPs exhibited prominent peaks at 3353, 2917, 2851, 1450.86, 1414.48, 946.20, 615.77 and 466.89 cm− 1. XRD patterns confirmed the formation of Ag NPs with face centered cubic structures. NC-AFM and FESEM images showed the formation of spherical, well dispersed Ag NPs in the size range of 30–120 nm, respectively.