One-pot green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Scoparia Dulcis plant extract for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities

Photo-catalytic and biological applications of phyto-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using a polar extract of Equisetum diffusum D

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were fabricated using Equisetum diffusum D extract and their diverse properties and applications were studied. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of phenols and flavonoids in the plant extract, playing a crucial role in the stabilization and reduction of the synthesized nanoparticles. The greenly synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized through a range of analytical techniques. UV-visible spectrophotometry has been employed to investigate their optical characteristics. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to identify the functional groups responsible for the synthesis of the ZnO NPs. The structural properties were evaluated using XRD. The morphology and size distribution of the synthesized NPs were examined using SEM, DLS, and elemental spectra evaluated using EDX. The charge that develops at the interface was analyzed using zeta potential which accounts for stability of the NPs. The ZnO NPs exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation of cationic (methylene blue), anionic (methyl orange), and nonionic (p-nitrophenol) dyes under sunlight exposure with photocatalytic degradation of 85.61%, 79.10%, and 89.95% respectively. Additionally, the nanoparticles displayed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and noteworthy antioxidant potential. The anti-inflammatory activity of the ZnO NPs, attributed to their ability to inhibit protein denaturation, was dose-dependent. Overall, our findings highlight the versatile properties of the greenly synthesized ZnO NPs, showcasing their potential in environmental remediation, and antimicrobial formulations, and as promising candidates for further exploration in the biomedical fields, including drug delivery and therapeutics.

A Review of Plant-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles for Photodegradation and Antibacterial Applications

This review focuses on the synthesis of plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and their applications for antibacterial and photocatalytic degradation of dyes, thereby addressing the need for sustainable and eco-friendly methods for the preparation of NPs. Driven by the significant rise in antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution from dye pollution, there is a need for more effective antibacterial agents and photocatalysts. Therefore, this review explores the synthesis of plant-mediated ZnO NPs, and the influence of reaction parameters such as pH, annealing temperature, plant extract concentration, etc. Additionally, it also looks at the application of plant-mediated ZnO NPs for antibacterial and photodegradation of dyes, focusing on the influence of the properties of the plant-mediated ZnO NPs such as size, shape, and bandgap on the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity. The findings suggest that properties such as shape and size are influenced by reaction parameters and these properties also influence the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity of plant-mediated ZnO NPs. This review concludes that plant-mediated ZnO NPs have the potential to advance green and sustainable materials in antibacterial and photocatalysis applications.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Extracts from Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi: Characterization and Bioactivities

In this work, the hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts from Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi were utilized to green-synthesize silver nanoparticles (Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs). The Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs were characterized by spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs was studied against bacteria strains, utilizing the microdilution assay. The DPPH and H2O2 assays were considered to assess the antioxidant activity of AgNPs. The results revealed that Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs exhibit an average diameter of 39.9, 111, and 42 nm, respectively. The calculated ζ-potential of Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs were -20.5, -10.6, and -7.9 mV, respectively. The UV-vis analysis of the three samples demonstrated characteristic absorption bands within the range of 350-450 nm, which confirmed the formation of AgNPs. The FTIR analysis of AgNPs exhibited a series of bands from 3500 to 750 cm-1, related to the presence of extracts on their surfaces. SEM observations unveiled that Kf1- and Kf2-AgNPs adopted structural arrangements related to nano-popcorns and nanoflowers, whereas Kf3-AgNPs were spherical in shape. It was determined that treatment with Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs was demonstrated to inhibit the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa in a dose-dependent manner (50-300 μg/mL). Within the same range, treatment with Kf1-, Kf2-, and Kf3-AgNPs decreased the generation of DPPH (IC50 57.02-2.09 μg/mL) and H2O2 (IC50 3.15-3.45 μg/mL) radicals. This study highlights the importance of using inorganic nanomaterials to improve the biological performance of plant extracts as an efficient nanotechnological approach.

Sustainable fabrication of dimorphic plant derived ZnO nanoparticles and exploration of their biomedical and environmental potentialities

Although, different plant species were utilized for the fabrication of polymorphic, hexagonal, spherical, and nanoflower ZnO NPs with various diameters, few studies succeeded in synthesizing small diameter ZnO nanorods from plant extract at ambient temperature. This work sought to pioneer the ZnO NPs fabrication from the aqueous extract of a Mediterranean salt marsh plant species Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. and assess the role of temperature in the fabrication process. Various techniques have been used to evaluate the quality and physicochemical characteristics of ZnO NPs. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS) was used as the primary test for formation confirmation. TEM analysis confirmed the formation of two different shapes of ZnO NPs, nano-rods and near hexagonal NPs at varying reaction temperatures. The nano-rods were about 25.3 and 297.9 nm in diameter and in length, respectively while hexagonal NPs were about 29.3 nm. The UV-VIS absorption spectra of the two forms of ZnO NPs produced were 370 and 365 nm for nano-rods and hexagonal NPs, respectively. FT-IR analysis showed Zn-O stretching at 642 cm-1 and XRD confirmed the crystalline structure of the produced ZnO NPs. Thermogravimetric analysis; TGA was also used to confirm the thermal stability of ZnO NPs. The anti-tumor activities of the two prepared ZnO NPs forms were investigated by the MTT assay, which revealed an effective dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on A-431 cell lines. Both forms displayed considerable antioxidant potential, particularly the rod-shaped ZnO NPs, with an IC50 of 148.43 µg mL-1. The rod-shaped ZnO NPs were superior candidates for destroying skin cancer, with IC50 of 93.88 ± 1 µg mL-1 ZnO NPs. Thus, rod-shaped ZnO NPs are promising, highly biocompatible candidate for biological and biomedical applications. Furthermore, both shapes of phyto-synthesized NPs demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. The outcomes highlight the potential of phyto-synthesized ZnO NPs as an eco-friendly alternative for water and wastewater disinfection.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Applications of Aerva persica Aqueous-Root Extract-Mediated Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles

In the present study, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by using aqueous extracts of Aerva persica roots. Characterization of as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles was carried out using different techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET surface area analysis. Morphological analysis confirmed the small, aggregated flake-shaped morphology of as-synthesized ZnO nanostructures. The as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles were analyzed for their potential application as anti-inflammatory (using in vivo inhibition of carrageenan induced paw edema) and antioxidant (using in vitro radical scavenging activity) agents. The ZnO nanoparticles were found to have a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of standard ascorbic acid (antioxidant) and indomethacin (anti-inflammatory drug). Therefore, due to their ecofriendly synthesis, nontoxicity, and biocompatible nature, zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized successfully from roots extract of the plant Aerva persica with potent efficiencies can be utilized for different biomedical applications.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nano particles using Allium cepa L. waste peel extracts and its antioxidant and antibacterial activities

Synthesis of nanoparticles through the green approach using plant and vegetable extracts has gained popularity since they are thought to be efficient and cost-effective materials. This study is designed to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from onion waste peel extract (Allium cepa L.) via the green synthesis approach. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized by utilizing the UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD)techniques. The nanoparticles formation was confirmed by the UV-Vis sharp absorption spectra at 318 and 322 nm. The synthesized ZnO-NPs size and shape was revealed by the XRD and SEM respectively. Smallest nanoparticle average crystallite size was found 57.38 nm with hexagonal shape. The bioactive functional groups that are in charge of capping and stabilizing the ZnO-NPs was assured by the FTIR data. Further, prepared ZnO-NPs were used to assess their possible antioxidant and antibacterial properties. DPPH test for free radical scavenging showed potential antioxidant properties of the synthesized ZnO-NPs. The antibacterial activity were studied against three clinical strains: P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus with the maximum zone of inhibition 13.17 mm, 22.00 mm and 12.35 mm respectively at 100 μg/mL subsequently minimum inhibitory concentration was found 50 μg/mL for P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus whereas 100 μg/mL for E. coli. Antioxidant and antibacterial activity tests appear bio-resource based ZnO-NPs from Allium cepa L. extract have effects on free radical and growth of microorganisms.Therefore, it could be a promising candidates for agricultural and food safety applications as an effective antimicrobial agent against pathogenic microorganisms and also can address future biomedical applications after complete in vivo study.

A comprehensive review on antibacterial analysis of natural extract-based metal and metal oxide nanoparticles

Pharmaceutical, food packing, cosmetics, agriculture, energy storage devices widely utilize metal and metal oxide nanoparticles prepared via different physical and chemical methods. It resulted in the release of several dangerous compounds and solvents as the nanoparticles were being formed. Currently, Researchers interested in preparing nanoparticles (NPs) via biological approach due to their unique physiochemical properties which took part in reducing the environmental risks. However, a number of microbial species are causing dangerous illnesses and are a threat to the entire planet. The metal and metal oxide nanoparticles played a significant role in the identification and elimination of microbes when prepared using natural extract. Its biological performance is thus also becoming exponentially more apparent than it was using in conventional techniques. Despite the fact that they hurt germs, their small size and well-defined shape encourage surface contact with them. The generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), weakens the bacterial cell membrane by allowing internal cellular components to seep out. The bacterium dies as a result of this. Numerous studies on different nanoparticles and their antibacterial efficacy against various diseases are still accessible. The main objective of the biogenic research on the synthesis of key metals and metal oxides (such as gold, silver, titanium dioxide, nickel oxide, and zinc oxide) using various plant extracts is reviewed in this study along with the process of nanoparticle formation and the importance of phytochemicals found in the plant extract.

Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline using surface defective black TiO2-ZnO heterojunction photocatalyst under visible light

Fabrication of heterojunction and surface defective engineering, through the formation of oxygen vacancies, are among the various photocatalytic enhancement techniques. A combination of these techniques has the prospect of enhancing photocatalytic activities through improved light absorption capabilities and charge separation process of the photocatalysts. In this study, a heterojunction of black titanium oxide-zinc oxide (BTiO2-ZnO) nanocomposite was synthesized using the conventional sol-gel approach, coupled with aluminum foil-assisted NaBH4 reduction. The structure, morphology, surface properties, and optical characteristics of the synthesized material were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis absorption spectra, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The XRD confirmed the successful formation of BTiO2-ZnO heterostructure, while SEM revealed the structural morphology as pseudo-spherical with slight agglomeration. BTiO2-ZnO was found to be more efficient than BTiO2 and BZnO for the removal of tetracycline with degradation efficiencies of 63, 58, and 56 % respectively. The effects of process parameters such as the amount of photocatalyst, pollutant's concentration, and the initial solution pH on photocatalytic degradation study were systematically explored. The results confirm that the formation of the heterostructure from BTiO2 and BZnO could offer a facile route to improving the catalytic degradation of tetracycline. Therefore, this study offers a novel perspective on the design of efficient metal oxide photocatalyst systems that rely on the integration of defect engineering and heterojunction for the removal of organic contaminants.

The energetic and physical concept of gold nanorod-dependent fluorescence in cancer treatment and development of new photonic compounds|review

The optical features of gold nanorods (GNR) may be precisely controlled by manipulating their size, shape, and aspect ratio. This review explores the impact of these parameters on the optical tuning of (GNR). By altering the experimental conditions, like the addition of silver ions during the seed-mediated growth process, the aspect ratio of (GNR) may be regulated. The shape is trans from spherical to rod-like structures resulting in noticeable changes in the nanoparticles surface plasmons resonance (SPR) bands. The longitudinal SPR band, associated with electron oscillations along the long axis, exhibits a pronounced red shift into the (NIR) region as the aspect ratio increases. In contrast, the transverse SPR band remains relate unchanged. Using computational methods like the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) allows for analyzing absorption, scattering, and total extinction features of gold (G) nanoparticles. Studies have shown that increasing the aspect ratio enhances the scattering efficiency, indicating a higher scattering quantum yield (QY). These findings highlight the importance of size, shape, and aspect ratio in controlling the optical features of (GNR) providing valuable insights for various uses in nanophotonics and plasmonic-dependent fluorescence in cancer treatment and developing new photonic compound NRs.

An Analysis of the Toxicity, Antioxidant, and Anti-Cancer Activity of Cinnamon Silver Nanoparticles in Comparison with Extracts and Fractions of Cinnamomum Cassia at Normal and Cancer Cell Levels

In this work, the extract of cinnamon bark was used for the green synthesis of cinnamon-Ag nanoparticles (CNPs) and other cinnamon samples, including ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (CE) extracts, chloroform (CF), ethyl acetate (EF), and methanol (MF) fractions. The polyphenol (PC) and flavonoid (FC) contents in all the cinnamon samples were determined. The synthesized CNPs were tested for the antioxidant activity (as DPPH radical scavenging percentage) in Bj-1 normal cells and HepG-2 cancer cells. Several antioxidant enzymes, including biomarkers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH), were verified for their effects on the viability and cytotoxicity of normal and cancer cells. The anti-cancer activity depended on apoptosis marker protein levels (Caspase3, P53, Bax, and Pcl2) in normal and cancerous cells. The obtained data showed higher PC and FC contents in CE samples, while CF showed the lowest levels. The IC₅₀ values of all investigated samples were higher, while their antioxidant activities were lower than those of vitamin C (5.4 g/mL). The CNPs showed lower IC₅₀ value (55.6 µg/mL), whereas the antioxidant activity inside or outside the Bj-1 or HepG-2 was found to be higher compared with other samples. All samples execrated a dose-dependent cytotoxicity by decreasing the cells' viability percent of Bj-1 and HepG-2. Similarly, the anti-proliferative potency of CNPs on Bj-1 or HepG-2 at different concentrations was more effective than that of other samples. Higher concentrations of the CNPs (16 g/mL) showed greater cell death in Bj-1 (25.68%) and HepG-2 (29.49%), indicating powerful anti-cancer properties of the nanomaterials. After 48 h of CNPs treatment, both Bj-1 and HepG-2 showed significant increases in biomarker enzyme activities and reduced glutathione compared with other treated samples or untreated controls (p < 0.05). The anti-cancer biomarker activities of Caspas-3, P53, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels were significantly changed in Bj-1 or HepG-2 cells. The cinnamon samples were significantly increased in Caspase-3, Bax, and P53, while there were decreased Bcl-2 levels compared with control.

Synergistic Anticandidal Activities of Greenly Synthesized ZnO Nanomaterials with Commercial Antifungal Agents against Candidal Infections

The high occurrence of mycological resistance to conventional antifungal agents results in significant illness and death rates among immunodeficient patients. In addition, the underprivileged therapeutic results of conventional antifungal agents, besides the potential toxicity resulting from long term therapy necessitate the fabrication of efficient antimicrobial combinations. Hence, the objective of the present investigation is to synthesize, characterize and investigate the anticandidal action of green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) formulated using Camellia sinensis leaf extract against three candidal pathogens. The eco-friendly synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized utilizing different physicochemical methods and their anticandidal potency was tested utilizing a disk diffusion assay. In this setting, the size of the biofabricated ZnO-NPs was detected using transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs, recording an average particle size of 19.380 ± 2.14 nm. In addition, zeta potential analysis revealed that the ZnO-NPs surface charge was -4.72 mV. The biogenic ZnO-NPs reveal the highest anticandidal activity against the C. tropicalis strain, demonstrating relative suppressive zones measured at 35.16 ± 0.13 and 37.87 ± 0.24 mm in diameter for ZnO-NPs concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/disk, respectively. Excitingly, Candida glabrata showed a high susceptibility to the biofabricated ZnO nanomaterials at both ZnO-NPs' concentrations (50 and 100 μg/disk) compared to the control. Moreover, the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs revealed potential synergistic effectiveness with nystatin and terbinafine antifungal agents against the concerned strains. The maximum synergistic efficiency was noticed against the C. glabrata strain, demonstrating relative synergistic percentages of 23.02 and 45.9%, respectively. The biogenic ZnO-NPs revealed no hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes revealing their biosafety and hemocompatibility. Finally, the high anticandidal effectiveness of biogenic ZnO-NPs against the concerned candidal pathogens, as well as potential synergistic patterns with conventional antifungal agents such as nystatin and terbinafine, emphasize the prospective application of these combinations for the fabrication of biocompatible and highly efficient antifungal agents.