Innovative AuAg bimetallic nanoparticle synthesis using food waste materials: its biological applications and photocatalytic degradation potentials

Nanoparticles, particularly bimetallic nanoparticles, have garnered substantial attention owing to their excellent physicochemical properties. The current study aimed to synthesize Au-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles using a low-cost and environmentally benign methodology utilizing Actinidia deliciosa fruit outer peel waste extract (S1 extract) as the reaction agent and to study its potential applications such as antioxidant, α-amylase inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, antibacterial properties, and photocatalytic degradation of industrial toxic dyes (methylene blue and methyl orange). Following the synthesis of S1-AuAgNPs, they were characterized and confirmed by their dark purple coloration and surface plasmon resonance at 540 nm with an average size of 5.85 ± 0.33 nm and zeta potential of -30.02 mV. TGA and FTIR analysis demonstrated that bioorganic compounds present in S1-extract capped the surface of S1-AuAgNPs. S1-AuAgNPs demonstrated positive antioxidant effects, tyrosinase inhibition (IC 50 167.76 µg/ml), α-amylase inhibition (IC 50 78.19 µg/ml), and antibacterial activities (10.56–16.60 mm inhibition zones). Besides, it also displayed moderate photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (43.76%) and methyl orange (48.60%) industrial dyes, confirming its sustainable utilization. The above findings reveal a considerable approach for utilization of A. deliciosa fruit outer peel waste and various food waste materials in the biosynthesis of nanomaterials that could possibly be utilized as antioxidant, antibacterial, and tyrosinase inhibiting agents for the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries along with wastewater treatment and remediation of industrial toxic dyes after required testing and approval.