Optimization of Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Conjugated with Lepechinia meyenii (Salvia) Using Plackett-Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology—Preliminary Antibacterial Activity

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors,

The paper has plenty of technical issues but there is also a huge scientific problems. I do not reject easily but even I took an effort to try to understand the data  it was too much issues. The details are more explained in PDF file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

I would like to thank the authors for the nice work entitled “Optimization of the Synthesis Process of Biogenic Silver Nano-particles applying the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) mediated by the ethanolic fraction of the Peruvian medicinal plant Lepechinia meyenii (salvia) and evaluation of its biological activity” aimed to assess the optimization of NPsAg biosynthesis and the biological activity of the optimized nanoparticles from the Peruvian medicinal plant Lepechinia meyenii (salvia). The clarity in the methodology and the result section were interesting. I have very few concerns as listed below:

1.      Results L335P9- The evaluation of antibacterial activity is described in the results section but it’s not included in the methodology. Please write the methodology for the evaluation of antibacterial activity

2.      Conclusion L379P10- The conclusion should be stated precisely. I recommend you removing the equation and the numbers since all are already stated in the result section.

Minor

1.      Methods L85P2- In order to make the method repeatable its better if you mention the alcohol you used instead of terms like ‘80% hydroalcoholic solution’

2.      Methods L132P3- Capitalize the title ‘scanning electron microscopy’

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors deeply investigate the possibility of silver nanoparticles biosynthesis scaling. Despite the overall high quality of work, some enhancements should be made.

On the graphs, all axes titles should be rewritten in English.

The introduction does not represent state-of-the-art in the field. The authors should shed light on the question of cytotoxicity and the mechanisms of the stabilization of the nanoparticles. Partially these questions were discussed, for example, in our last work (doi.org/10.3390/nano12111868).

From the article, it's not clear that the mathematical model can give a prediction of the efficiency of biosynthesis. The overlap of the actual data and predicted should be shown.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors,

Your paper is significantly enhanced. I am pleased to see how you accepted my suggestions, especially by adding the explanation of experiments and methods. In the addition, there are few minor suggestions.  

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx