Abstract
BackgroundGreen synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has been extensively carried out by using plant extracts (PEs) which have property of stabilizers/ emulsifiers. To our knowledge, there is no comprehensive study on applying a green approach using PEs for fabrication of biodegradable PLA NPs. Conventional methods rely on molecules like polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, D-alpha-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol 1000) succinate as stabilizers/emulsifiers for the synthesis of such biodegradable NPs which are known to be toxic. So, there is urgent need to look for stabilizers which are biogenic and non-toxic. The present study investigated use of PEs as stabilizers/emulsifiers for the fabrication of stable PLA NPs. Synthesized PLA NPs through this green process were explored for controlled release of the well known antioxidant molecule quercetin.Methodology/Principal FindingsStable PLA NPs were synthesized using leaf extracts of medicinally important plants like Syzygium cumini (1), Bauhinia variegata (2), Cedrus deodara (3), Lonicera japonica (4) and Eleaocarpus sphaericus (5). Small and uniformly distributed NPs in the size range 70±30 nm to 143±36 nm were formed with these PEs. To explore such NPs for drugs/ small molecules delivery, we have successfully encapsulated quercetin a lipophilic molecule on a most uniformly distributed PLA-4 NPs synthesized using Lonicera japonica leaf extract. Quercetin loaded PLA-4 NPs were observed for slow and sustained release of quercetin molecule.ConclusionsThis green approach based on PEs mediated synthesis of stable PLA NPs pave the way for encapsulating drug/small molecules, nutraceuticals and other bioactive ingredients for safer cellular uptake, biodistribution and targeted delivery. Hence, such PEs synthesized PLA NPs would be useful to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated small molecules/drugs. Furthermore, different types of plants can be explored for the synthesis of PLA as well as other polymeric NPs of smaller size.
Highlights
Green nanotechnology involves the application of green chemistry principles for the fabrication of nanoscale materials [1,2]
This green approach based on plant extracts (PEs) mediated synthesis of stable PLA NPs pave the way for encapsulating drug/ small molecules, nutraceuticals and other bioactive ingredients for safer cellular uptake, biodistribution and targeted delivery
Extracts of medicinally important plants Syzygium cumini, Bauhinia variegata, Cedrus deodara, Lonicera japonica and Eleaocarpus sphaericus were used as stabilizers/emulsifiers for the synthesis of PLA-1, PLA-2, PLA-3, PLA-4 and PLA-5 NPs, respectively
Summary
Green nanotechnology involves the application of green chemistry principles for the fabrication of nanoscale materials [1,2]. Green chemistry strives to discover synthetic methods that eliminate harmful reagents and enhance the efficiency of existing methods Due to these reasons green chemistry approach is preferred nowadays for the synthesis of nanomaterials [3,4]. PEs contain valuable compounds like saponins, terpenoids, proteins, polyphenols and flavonoids These compounds have the properties of stabilizers/ emulsifiers [14]. Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has been extensively carried out by using plant extracts (PEs) which have property of stabilizers/ emulsifiers. There is no comprehensive study on applying a green approach using PEs for fabrication of biodegradable PLA NPs. Conventional methods rely on molecules like polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, D-alpha-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol 1000) succinate as stabilizers/emulsifiers for the synthesis of such biodegradable NPs which are known to be toxic. Synthesized PLA NPs through this green process were explored for controlled release of the well known antioxidant molecule quercetin
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