Development and Evaluation of Gel Incorporated with Biogenically Synthesised Silver Nanoparticles

The purpose of the study was to prepare gels by using polymer chitosan and carbopol. The prepared gels were incorporated with silver nanoparticles biogenically synthesized by leave extract of Eichhornia crassipes. The silver nanoparticles having average particle size of 21.71+/- 4.42 nm and showing antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria were taken for preparing gels. Different characteristics like pH, spreadability, extrudability, viscosity, in-vitro drug diffusion, swelling, and antimicrobial study of the prepared gels were evaluated. The gel formulated with chitosan showed better physicochemical characteristic as compared to gel formulated with polymer carbopol. In-vitro antibacterial study of the prepared silver nanoparticle incorporated gels was carried out using microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia hermanii , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The prepared gels showed promising activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, moderate activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The optimized silver nanoparticle incorporated gel was having potency to be used as an antimicrobial agent.