Therapeutic innovation in the treatment of skin diseases: from phytotherapy to nanotechnology

Abstract

This study presents a novel microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an endemic plant species from the northern Sahara of Algeria: Euphorbia guyoniana. The plant, known for its high content of bioactive compounds, was used as both reducing agent and stabilizing agent in the synthesis process. The effects of microwave power, irradiation time, extract concentration and silver nitrate concentration on the formation and properties of AgNPs were investigated and optimized with the use of response surface methodology (RSM). The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, zeta potential (ZP) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The microwave-assisted synthesis method demonstrated several advantages, including rapid synthesis, uniform particle size distribution, and enhanced yield compared to conventional methods. The results of the statistical analyses carried out attest to the accuracy of the mathematical models proposed by the RSM and allow us to affirm that they describe well the behavior of the studied system.