Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated by plant extracts: a critical review and experimental insights on the integrated effects of pH, temperature, and concentration
5 affiliations
- 1Hybrid composites and nanocomposites group (GCNH), Department of Physics and Chemistry, Ilha Solteira School of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira, SP, 15385-000, Brazil
- 2Instituto de Ciências Exatas E Tecnologia, Universidade Federal Do Amazonas (UFAM), Itacoatiara, AM, 69104-404, Brazil
- 3International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga, Braga, 4715-330, Portugal
- 4USP – University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, CEP 13635-900, Brazil
- 5Environmental Nanochemistry Group, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Ilha Solteira School of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira, SP, 15385-007, Brazil
Abstract
Plant-extract-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has emerged as a promising and sustainable approach aligned with the demand for environmentally responsible methods. This study critically reviews key physicochemical parameters pH, temperature, and reagent concentration that govern AgNP morphology, colloidal stability, and functionality. Alkaline conditions and moderate temperatures may enhance silver-ion reduction and colloidal stabilization, whereas plant-extract concentration must be carefully adjusted to balance nucleation, growth, and surface capping. A case study using Astrocaryum aculeatum extract at 10, 15, 20, and 30 g L ⁻1 was evaluated by UV–Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), polydispersity index (PDI), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Based on three independent synthesis batches, samples prepared with 10, 15, and 20 g L ⁻1 extract exhibited SPR maxima at 406.3 ± 3.2, 410.0 ± 2.0, and 407.0 ± 1.0 nm, respectively, whereas no clearly resolved SPR maximum was observed at 30 g L ⁻1 . Increasing the extract concentration from 15 to 30 g L ⁻1 increased the mean hydrodynamic diameter from 220.0 ± 19.0 to 786.3 ± 108.8 nm and the PDI from 0.338 ± 0.015 to 0.939 ± 0.050. Extract concentration significantly affected PDI [F(3,8) = 160.50, p < 0.001], with a marked increase between 15 and 20 g L ⁻1 . NTA showed the highest particle-number concentration at 15 g L ⁻1 , reaching (5.41 ± 0.18) × 10 10 particles mL ⁻1 . These results identify 15 g L ⁻1 as the most favorable concentration among the tested conditions. Overall, this review provides practical guidance for defining system-specific synthesis conditions and highlights the importance of extract standardization and complementary colloidal characterization for reproducible AgNP production.
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BibTeX
@article{santos2026green,
title = {{Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated by plant extracts: a critical review and experimental insights on the integrated effects of pH, temperature, and concentration}},
author = {Sidney S. Dos Santos and Giovany Eduardo Rodrigues De Moraes and Miguel Ângelo Cerqueira and Fauze Ahmad Aouada and Fabrício Cerizza Tanaka and Renato Grillo and Gustavo Frigi Perotti and Marcia Regina de Moura},
journal = {Bioscience Nanotechnology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s44331-026-00033-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s44331-026-00033-7},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated by plant extracts: a critical review and experimental insights on the integrated effects of pH, temperature, and concentration
AU - Sidney S. Dos Santos
AU - Giovany Eduardo Rodrigues De Moraes
AU - Miguel Ângelo Cerqueira
AU - Fauze Ahmad Aouada
AU - Fabrício Cerizza Tanaka
AU - Renato Grillo
AU - Gustavo Frigi Perotti
AU - Marcia Regina de Moura
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/21
JO - Bioscience Nanotechnology
DO - 10.1186/s44331-026-00033-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s44331-026-00033-7
AB - Plant-extract-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has emerged as a promising and sustainable approach aligned with the demand for environmentally responsible methods. This study critically reviews key physicochemical parameters pH, temperature, and reagent concentration that govern AgNP morphology, colloidal stability, and functionality. Alkaline conditions and moderate temperatures may enhance silver-ion reduction and colloidal stabilization, whereas plant-extract concentration must be carefully adjusted to balance nucleation, growth, and surface capping. A case study using Astrocaryum aculeatum extract at 10, 15, 20, and 30 g L ⁻1 was evaluated by UV–Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), polydispersity index (PDI), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Based on three independent synthesis batches, samples prepared with 10, 15, and 20 g L ⁻1 extract exhibited SPR maxima at 406.3 ± 3.2, 410.0 ± 2.0, and 407.0 ± 1.0 nm, respectively, whereas no clearly resolved SPR maximum was observed at 30 g L ⁻1 . Increasing the extract concentration from 15 to 30 g L ⁻1 increased the mean hydrodynamic diameter from 220.0 ± 19.0 to 786.3 ± 108.8 nm and the PDI from 0.338 ± 0.015 to 0.939 ± 0.050. Extract concentration significantly affected PDI [F(3,8) = 160.50, p < 0.001], with a marked increase between 15 and 20 g L ⁻1 . NTA showed the highest particle-number concentration at 15 g L ⁻1 , reaching (5.41 ± 0.18) × 10 10 particles mL ⁻1 . These results identify 15 g L ⁻1 as the most favorable concentration among the tested conditions. Overall, this review provides practical guidance for defining system-specific synthesis conditions and highlights the importance of extract standardization and complementary colloidal characterization for reproducible AgNP production.
SN - 3004-8648
ER -