Effect of Growing Conditions on the Structural and Functional Properties of Duckweed-Based Silver Nanoparticles.

Project Description

This project explores an eco-friendly method to create silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using extracts from duckweed (Lemna minor), a fast-growing aquatic plant. We have grown Lemna minor under different light conditions, extracted natural phytochemicals and used these extracts to synthesize silver nanoparticles. We have discovered that AgNPs synthesized using this method have different properties (size and antibacterial properties) that are dependent on the Lemna minor extracts from different light conditions. These results suggest that the different extracts have different components that contribute to the range of properties displayed by the AgNPs. To test this, we want to analyze these extractions from Lemna minor cultured under different light conditions by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the compositional differenced among these extracts. Furthermore, we would like to define the differences in the crystallinity of these AgNPs via microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) to determine their structure and stability as a function of these different extract compositions.

Instruments