A lucrative chemical processing of bamboo leaf biomass to synthesize biocompatible amorphous silica nanoparticles of biomedical importance

Suriyaprabha Rangaraj,Rajendran Venkatachalam

doi:10.1007/s13204-017-0557-z

Abstract

Synthesis of silica nanoparticles from natural resources/waste via cost effective route is presently one of the anticipating strategies for extensive applications. This study reports the low-cost indigenous production of silica nanoparticles from the leftover of bamboo (leaf biomass) through thermal combustion and alkaline extraction, and examination of physico-chemical properties and yield percentage using comprehensive characterization tools. The outcome of primed silica powder exhibits amorphous particles (average size: 25 nm) with high surface area (428 m2 g−1) and spherical morphology. Despite the yield percentage of silica nanoparticles from bamboo leave ash is 50.2%, which is less than rice husk ask resources (62.1%), the bamboo waste is only an inexpensive resource yielding high purity (99%). Synthesis of silica nanoparticles from natural resources/waste with the help of lucrative route is at present times one of the anticipating strategies for extensive applications. In vitro study on animal cell lines (MG-63) shows non-toxic nature of silica nanoparticles up to 125 µg mL−1. Hence, this study highlights the feasibility for the mass production of silica nanoparticles from bamboo leave waste rather using chemical precursor of silica for drug delivery and other medical applications.

Highlights

Amorphous silica nanoparticles are commonly known to have a wide range of applications in many industries
This study reports the low-cost indigenous production of silica nanoparticles from the leftover of bamboo through thermal combustion and alkaline extraction, and examination of physico-chemical properties and yield percentage using comprehensive characterization tools
It is obvious from the fact that accumulation and distribution of silica bodies present in bamboo leaves are of large intensities especially in mature leaves on a dry weight basis (Motomura et al 2002)

Summary

Introduction

Amorphous silica nanoparticles are commonly known to have a wide range of applications in many industries. Mass production of desirable and abundantly used biocompatible silica nanoparticles at low cost is essential to meet out the scarcity of using natural resource materials. While evaluating numerous chemical synthesis approaches, extraction of silica nanoparticles from biomass/biological resources is deemed to be one of the most economical production routes. As it is found in monocotyledonous plants, accumulation of silicon is found to be of greater extent (Epstein 1999; Savant et al 1999). Finding the lucrative resources for large scale production of silica nanoparticles is still need to be refined as RH is useful in animal feeds

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Conclusion