The purpose of this study is to observe both the optical properties and antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles synthesized through binding to organic ligands extracted from Japanese maple leaves. The goals of this project are to extract polyphenols from Japanese maple leaves by using a variety of solvents, synthesize nanoparticles from silver nitrate, and to compare the optical properties of the metal nanoparticles in different solvents. To synthesize these nanoparticles, Japanese maple extracts from different solvents were used to bind to the metal particles. Scans using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fluorescence, bright field and dark field microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Quantum Yield calculations show the presence of silver nanoparticles. The importance of ligands extracted from plants in medicine is that they are renewable, cheap, and are less likely to be rejected by cells. Although further tests are needed to ensure their antimicrobial viability and their polyphenol concentrations, it is proven to be possible to synthesize metal nanoparticles with organic ligands from plant extracts.<br/>

Optical and antimicrobial properties of metal nanoparticles made from Japanese maple leaves

254th National Meeting (2017)

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