Fabrication of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) Nanoparticles Using Wastes of Fruit’s Peel: Characterization and Biological Activities

Abstract

Metal nanoparticles use a biocompatible, environmentally sustainable approach to be used as therapeutic nanomedicine. This study describes the use of rosaceous fruit peel waste extract (plum, kiwi, peach) as a tool for the synthesis of silicon nanoparticles. Visual color shift was used to identify biosynthesized SiO2NPs at first. Some characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and SEM analysis, verified the existence of these metal nanoparticles. The presence of various functional groups from the extract secondary metabolites for nanoparticle synthesis is suggested by FT-IR spectroscopy. The existence of SiO2 nanoparticles, whether crystalline or amorphous, is hypothesized using XRD. The formation of SiO2 nanoparticles was confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The zeta potential shows the nanoparticles stability. Different fruits peels produced different shapes and sizes of SiO2NPs. Plum peels extract produced the smallest SiO2NPs, followed by kiwi and peach as determined by SEM analysis. Antibacterial and antioxidant activities were also tested on all of the synthesized SiO2NPs. Regardless of size; these nanoparticles have stronger antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria. All SiO2NPs’ antioxidant activity was measured in a size and dose-dependent manner. To summarize, the current environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of SiO2NPs nanoparticles is a simple and economical process with good antibacterial and antioxidant properties.