Chapter 12 - Biocompatible green-synthesized nanomaterials for therapeutic applications

Abstract

Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) refers to an approach of nanoparticle production that uses living entities such as bacteria, fungi, and plants as a replacement to harmful chemicals for yielding NPs. The process of using green synthesis is advantageous over the other physical and chemical methods that eliminates the use of expensive chemicals thereby producing biocompatible products that are environmentally friendly and consumes less energy for production. Mainly bioreduction and biosorption are the two ways for nanoparticle production by green synthesis. Characterization of these nanoparticles are carried out using a variety of biophysical techniques. Recent advances in the field of green synthesis of NPs include synthesis using enzymes, vitamins, microwave-assisted synthesis, bio-based methods, etc. Furthermore, green synthesized NPs have gained importance in human therapeutic applications including drug delivery for treatments of cancer, asthma, pain, diabetes, and have shown to be effective against a variety of diseases and disorders pertaining to their biocompatibility and thus, these NPs pave a way in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.