Chapter 13 - Green synthesis of carbon nanoparticles: characterization and their biocidal properties

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an encouraging interdisciplinary arena of research in this decade, which has been widely applied in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, cosmetics, food preservation, electronics, biosensors, and bioimaging. In a broad sense, it relies on the synthesis and modulation of nanosized materials through modifications of the properties of raw materials. A large variety of inorganic and organic nanostructures have been investigated and used for their unique physicochemical and biological properties such as morphological diversity, high surface area to volume ratio, stability, dispersity, and toxicity to microorganisms or tumor cells. Due to such remarkable properties, many other application areas are yet to be explored in addition to the current applications. Carbon is one of the most abundant elements on the earth. In recent years, various carbon-based nanoparticles such as carbon quantum dots, carbon dots, and carbon nanotubes have been developed as one of the most valuable groups of nanomaterials with diverse applications. However, drawbacks such as the use of toxic precursor chemicals, organic solvents, and generation of toxic by-products associated with conventional synthesis methods have limited the applications in biomedical areas. To overcome these problems, green synthesis of nanoparticles has been projected as sustainable and unconventional to chemical methods. Rapidity of synthesis and effective cost has been established as a substitute for physical methods. For the green synthesis of carbon nanoparticles, naturally occurring and economically viable resources have been proposed. In this study, we explore the recent advances in the development of carbon-based nanomaterials synthesized by eco-friendly and green routes and their applications in biomedical areas.