Green synthesized silver nanoparticles act as algal growth inhibitors

Candreva, Angela; Shoukat, Tayyaba; Lauritano, Chiara; Ruffolo, Silvestro Antonio; Russa, Mauro Francesco La; Santillán Sarmiento, Alex; Deda, Massimo La

doi:10.1007/s13404-026-00375-3

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles act as algal growth inhibitors

Journal

Discover Metals

ISSN

30913462

Date Issued

2026-09-07

Author(s)

Candreva, Angela

Shoukat, Tayyaba

Lauritano, Chiara

Ruffolo, Silvestro Antonio

Russa, Mauro Francesco La

Santillán Sarmiento, Alex

Centro de Investigación para el Territorio y el Hábitat Sostenible

Deda, Massimo La

Type

Article

DOI

10.1007/s13404-026-00375-3

URL

https://cris.indoamerica.edu.ec/handle/123456789/10174

Abstract

Nanoparticles are increasingly being employed in a variety of industrial and environmental applications. In this study, we aimed to develop a sustainable method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles and to evaluate their potential as algal growth inhibitors. A seedless protocol was established using ascorbic acid and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to obtain spherical silver nanoparticles, thereby avoiding the use of strong reducing agents. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and IR spectroscopy. Since microalgae and other marine organisms often grow on the surfaces of boats, ships, and other human-made devices in aquatic environments, antifouling products are necessary to prevent unwanted fouling. The algal growth inhibition capacity of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was assessed using two marine diatoms Cylindrotheca Closterium and Skeletonema marinoi. The results revealed a marked inhibitory effect on algal proliferation in treated samples compared to controls. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed synthetic method and paves the way for the use of these silver nanoparticles as a tool for controlling microalgal growth. © The Author(s) 2026.