Molecular Insights Into Antibacterial Activity Through In Silico Studies and Ammonia Sensing of Bael Gum‐Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

The bael gum biomass stabilized silver nanoparticles (BG‐AgNPs) were used for the assessment of antimicrobial activity, antioxidant studies and colorimetric sensing of ammonia. In vitro studies of BG‐AgNPs for the antibacterial activity in the presence of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterium were performed. The result reveal that BG‐AgNPs have superior antibacterial activity for Enterococcus faecalis pathogens than Staphylococcus aureus , and Escherichia coli . The antioxidant ability of the BG‐AgNPs was disclosed by DPPH radical scavenging assay study. Furthermore, nine constituent compounds present in the gum of Aegle marmelos L . fruit (BG) were analyzed for their interaction with protein moieties using docking studies to establish their impact on antibacterial activity. The binding affinity of the compounds with six proteins from the protein data bank (PDB ID: 6ORI, 6MKH, 6KSI, 3G7B, 1RF7, and 4WUB) was determined. BG‐AgNPs were also used as a simple, selective, and rapid colorimetric sensor for the detection of ammonia at the micro‐molar level in aqueous solution with LOD 0.56 µM. Cellulose paper infused with BG‐AgNPs was investigated to demonstrate the sensing utility for ammonia detection in a real‐world scenario.