The Influence of Tartaric Acid in the Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Response Surface Methodology

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using tartaric acid as a capping agent have a great impact on the reaction kinetics and contribute significantly to the stability of AgNPs. The protective layer formed by tartaric acid is an important factor that protects the silver surface and reduces potential cytotoxicity problems. These attributes are critical for assessing the compatibility of AgNPs with biological systems and making them suitable for drug delivery applications. The aim of this research is to conduct a comprehensive study of the effect of tartaric acid concentration, sonication time and temperature on the formation of silver nanoparticles. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Face-Centered Central Composite Design (FCCD), the optimization process identifies the most favorable synthesis conditions. UV-Vis spectrum regression analysis shows that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid are more stable than AgNPs without tartaric acid. This highlights the increased stability that tartaric acid provides in AgNP ssssynthesis. Particle size distribution analysis showed a multimodal distribution for AgNPs with tartaric acid and showed the smallest size peak with an average size of 20.53 nm. The second peak with increasing intensity shows a dominant average size of 108.8 nm accompanied by one standard deviation of 4.225 nm and a zeta potential of −11.08 mV. In contrast, AgNPs synthesized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) showed a unimodal particle distribution with an average particle size of 81.62 nm and a zeta potential of −2.96 mV. The more negative zeta potential of AgNP-tartaric acid indicates its increased stability. Evaluation of antibacterial activity showed that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid showed better performance against E. coli and B. subtilis bacteria compared with AgNPs-PVP. In summary, this study highlights the potential of tartaric acid in AgNP synthesis and suggests an avenue for the development of stable AgNPs with versatile applications.