Microwave assisted green synthesis and characterizations of noble metal nanoparticles and their roles as catalysts in organic reduction reactions and anticancer agent

Abstract

Nanomaterials are interesting chemicals that uncover the explorations and expectations of decades. The report suggests environmentally benevolent and easy route for the synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles. Personnel, laboratory and ecological benefits of the synthesized nanoparticles are demonstrated herein. The aqueous extract from the leaves of Litchi chinensis Sonn is performed as the alternative reducing agent. The microwave activated silver and gold nanoparticles have spherical geometries with crystalline essence. X-ray diffraction technique witnessed the face centered cubic lattice for the nano silver and gold particles that preferentially oriented towards the (111) plane. The reduction of nitro anilines is performed to elucidate the heterogeneous catalytic power of the nanoparticles. The nano catalyst is a potential candidate to meet the challenges raised from organic pollutant dye that cause environmental contamination. The chemical stability, low-cost factor and plant based origin of the new nanoparticles are admired. The multitudes of health hazards especially human carcinoma can be effectively inhibited by the silver and gold nanoparticles. The leaf extract, silver and gold nanoparticles showed IC50 values 66.56 ± 0.80, 23.55 ± 0.43 and 20.38 ± 0.41 μg ml−1 respectively against the human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549 determined using the MTT dye conversion assay.