Wheat straw extracted lignin in silver nanoparticles synthesis: Expanding its prophecy towards antineoplastic potency and hydrogen peroxide sensing ability

Lignin, is the most abundant, renewable and degradable biopolymer available in the nature. The present study exploited purified lignin from wheat straw as reducing, capping and stabilizing agent for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Li-AgNPs) under optimized conditions. The analytical studies revealed synthesized Li-AgNPs having a face centered cubic crystalline structure, size ranging ~15–20 nm and the biomolecules comprising majorly phenolic, hydroxyl and carboxylic group of lignin coated on the surface of AgNPs. Li-AgNPs showed significant antimicrobial efficacy against human pathogens namely; Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and also determined their minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC and MBC). Li-AgNPs also displayed substantial antioxidant activity in terms of well-known enzyme marker viz.; ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assay relative to commercial AgNPs. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of Li-AgNPs demonstrated dose-dependent toxicity effects in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line (LD50; 150 μg/mL) indicative of promising anticancer agent. Further, H₂O₂ sensing ability of stabilized Li-AgNPs exhibited its vital role in determining reactive oxygen species. Synthesis of Li-AgNPs is a cheap green technology and could exhibit its commercial use in biomedical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industry.