Biocompatible antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of silver nanoparticles synthesized using palm oil mill effluent

The advancement of nanotechnology has revolutionized various scientific fields, notably in the development of antimicrobial agents. This study presents a green synthesis method for producing biocompatible silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using palm oil mill effluent (POME). The POME sample was obtained from the POME factory, processed, and used to synthesize AgNPs. POME-AgNPs were characterized by visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The UV–visible spectrum confirmed AgNP synthesis with absorption at 450 nm. FTIR analysis identified functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxylic suggesting their active role in reducing silver ions. XRD confirmed the crystallinity, and a zeta potential of − 32.3 mV demonstrated the stability of POME-AgNPs. HRTEM revealed an average size of 15.0 nm with a spherical shape. POME-AgNPs exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to controls. At 100 µg/mL, POME-AgNPs showed antibiofilm inhibition rates of 93% against S. aureus and 98% against P. aeruginosa, with morphological analysis confirming bacterial cell wall damage. Additionally, the viability study revealed that human skin fibroblast (HSF 1184) cells remained viable after 20 h of exposure to synthesized POME-AgNPs, even at higher concentrations (1.0 mg/mL). Therefore, green-synthesized POME-AgNPs show strong antibacterial and antibiofilm activity while maintaining human cell viability. This highlights POME’s potential as a sustainable resource for producing biocompatible silver nanoparticles using an eco-friendly approach.