Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Quantum Dots from Moringa Oleifera Leaves & Seeds Extracts

Quantum dots (QDs) are zero-dimensional nanoparticles with renowned semiconductor, optical, and electrical properties, having distinct biocompatibility, and biodegradability that are utilized in nanoscience and nanotechnology, as biosensors, potential targeting agents for viruses and cancer cells amongst many other potential applications. QDs are synthesized by non-thermal plasma gas phase, hydrothermal synthesis, microwave-assisted synthesis, electrochemical synthesis, or by self-assembly to yield different sizes and structures. QDs can be produced chemically from gold, silver, copper, zinc, other metals, and also from plants to form distinct nanoparticles. The means of synthesis of QDs and nanoparticles, create an avenue to enhance their properties, structures, and applications. Moringa oleifera (MO) also known as “the miracle tree” found in India and Africa, is famously known to contain vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B7, A, C, K, E, D, 92 nutrients, 46 natural antioxidants, several anti-inflammatory compounds, and has the ability to treat more than 300 diseases. Magnetic iron oxide quantum dots (MIOQDs) have been synthesized using MO leaves through the green technique; microwave treatment, and previously, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been biosynthesized using moringa oleifera seeds (MOS), however, as far as our knowledge, overnight extraction and green synthesis of silver quantum dots (Ag-QDs) via microwave-assisted synthesis from MO seeds and leaves ethanol and distilled water extracts is novel for our study. In this study, MO seeds and MO leaves separately in Distilled Water (dH2O) and Ethanol (ETOH) solutions were extracted using hydrothermal distillation overnight on the thermomagnetic stirrer at 100 °C. Each solution was filtered using Whatman filter paper and centrifuged to obtain MO leaves and seeds extract. We used the microwave-assisted synthesis method to synthesize Ag-QDs from MO leaves and seed extract solutions. Additionally, Ag-Qds were synthesized chemically utilizing the hydrothermal method to evaluate our results. As a result, AgNO3 was reduced by the MO extracts. and served as a capping agent; forming novel Ag-QDs. Additionally, the hydrothermal chemical synthesis method was used to produce Ag-Qds, which were utilized to evaluate the MO-based Ag-QDs. Later, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were utilized to characterize the Ag-QDs. Combining the antibacterial electro-optical magnetic properties of Ag-QDs to the miracle tree; moringa oleifera, we propose that biomedicine, biosensors, wound healing, drug delivery, and many other bio-applications can benefit from this study through further research and experimentation.