Eco-friendly Synthesis Research Articles

Eco-friendly and sustainable synthesis of carbon quantum dots from waste sulfuric acid of alkylation

Waste sulfuric acid of alkylation (WSAA) poses a challenge in industrial alkylation oil production due to its substantial yield and high treatment costs. This study introduces a novel hydrothermal method that ingeniously couples the treatment of WSAA with the synthesis of high-quality carbon quantum dots (CQDs), offering a cost-effective and controllable approach. Through this method, the particle size and surface functional groups of the resulting CQDs can be precisely regulated. The average particle size tunes from 17.97 nm to 2.42 nm via increasing the hydrothermal temperature, and nitrogen-containing groups can be introduced through adding nitrogen sources during hydrothermal process. The prepared CQDs exhibit notable performance in photocatalysis and heavy metal detection, such as CQDs modified graphite carbon nitride has improved photocatalytic degradation ability and Hg (II) detection ability. Additionally, the environmental impact of the proposed method is substantially minimized, demonstrating a smaller footprint on ecosystems compared to conventional industrial disposal processes. Moreover, the economic cost associated with the method is significantly reduced by approximately 48.4 %, further highlighting its efficiency. Utilizing WSAA as a raw material for CQDs not only facilitates the recycling and sustainable utilization of waste but also enables low-cost production of high-performance carbon materials, presenting a mutually beneficial approach.

Bacterial synthesis of metal nanoparticles as antimicrobials.

Nanoscience, a pivotal field spanning multiple industries, including healthcare, focuses on nanomaterials characterized by their dimensions. These materials are synthesized through conventional chemical and physical methods, often involving costly and energy-intensive processes. Alternatively, biogenic synthesis using bacteria, fungi, or plant extracts offers a potentially sustainable and non-toxic approach for producing metal-based nanoparticles (NP). This eco-friendly synthesis approach not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances features of NP production due to the unique biochemistry of the biological systems. Recent advancements have shown that along with chemically synthesized NPs, biogenic NPs possess significant antimicrobial properties. The inherent biochemistry of bacteria enables the efficient conversion of metal salts into NPs through reduction processes, which are further stabilized by biomolecular capping layers that improve biocompatibility and functional properties. This mini review explores the use of bacteria to produce NPs with antimicrobial activities. Microbial technologies to produce NP antimicrobials have considerable potential to help address the antimicrobial resistance crisis, thus addressing critical health issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Goal #3 of good health and well-being.

Bioinspired green synthesis of copper, nickel, and hybrid nanoparticles using Myristica Fragrans seeds: Biomedical applications and beyond

Nanotechnology focuses on materials at the molecular and atomic levels, with sizes ranging from 0.1 to 100 nm. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of copper oxide (CuO), nickel oxide (NiO), and hybrid nanoparticles using an aqueous seed extract from Myristica fragrans. The nanomaterials underwent comprehensive characterization employing various techniques: UV analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, TGA, EDX and SEM. We explored their biological applications through antioxidant and antibacterial assays. UV analysis determined the optical absorption spectra values for CuO, NiO and hybrid nanoparticles. FTIR analysis confirmed functional groups in the plant extract responsible for capping and reducing the reaction medium. XRD and SEM analysis demonstrated the crystalline nature and morphology of the nanoparticles. CuO nanoparticles exhibited polyhedral morphology, while NiO nanoparticles were primarily spherical with some agglomeration. The CuO-NiO hybrid nanoparticles showed a wurtzite morphology with significant agglomeration and larger mean size than CuO and NiO nanoparticles. EDX indicated higher quantities of Cu and Ni. XRD spectra revealed the average particle sizes of nanoparticles. TGA indicated the thermal stability of the nanoparticles, with hybrid nanoparticles being the most stable. The nanoparticles exhibited excellent antioxidant activity, with hybrid nanoparticles showing the highest values in measuring total antioxidant capacity, total reducing power (TRP), ABTS assay, and DPPH-free radical scavenging assay at 400 μg/mg. Antibacterial assays against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains demonstrated that antibiotics-coated hybrid nanoparticles exhibited potent antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In conclusion, CuO, NiO, and CuO-NiO hybrid nanoparticles mediated by Myristica fragrans showcase promising characteristics for various applications, especially in biomedical and clinical settings. The nanoparticles eco-friendly synthesis and biocompatible nature make them attractive candidates for future research and development.

Eco-friendly synthesis of red-emissive carbon dots for visual alcohol detection and light-emitting diodes

Red-emissive carbon dots (R-CDs) is highly desired in developing full-color solid-state lighting and display applications based on CDs. Developing simple and eco-friendly methods to produce R-CDs is extremely desirable. In this work, two types of R-CDs were obtained via simple and eco-friendly grinding-heating or solvothermal methods using fresh spinach leaves as the carbon source, respectively. The obtained R-CDs naturally possess surface functional groups. These R-CDs were effectively used as sensitive probes for detecting alcohol (including alcohol gas and liquor detection) due to the synergistic effect of the nitrogen-containing surface groups on the R-CDs and the oxhydryl groups in the alcohol solution. Finally, red electroluminescence was achieved by mixing the R-CDs with polyvinyl pyrrolidone as the phosphor layer on a blue light-emitting diode (LED) chip. This work paves the way for the further development of R-CDs in fluorescence probes and full-color LED applications.

Terbium (III) and salicylamide doped nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles synthesized from Olea europaea L. plant extracts via eco-friendly green synthesis approach and co-precipitation method

An eco-friendly and cost-effective NiFe2O4 nanoparticles and its derivatives NiFe2O4:salicylamide, NiFe2O4:salicylamide:Tb3+ and NiFe2O4:salicylamide:Tb3+:Olea europaea L. extracts have been successfully synthesized using a simple and refluxed-assisted chemical co-precipitation method and green route approach followed by thermal treatment steps. In this report, the structural, morphological, optical characteristics and biological activities of the nanoparticles were characterized by using XRD, SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, PL, BET analysis, antibacterial assays and antioxidant activities. The results from XRD revealed that NiFe2O4 has a crystalline structure and EDX elemental mapping confirmed the uniform distributed of all the elements in the matrix. The incorporation of salicylamide, Tb3+ and Olea europaea L. extracts into NiFe2O significantly enriched the luminescence intensities and changed the emission colour coordinates. Colour tunability was achieved with luminescence ranging from bright blue emission to reddish orange light, which makes nanoparticles important candidates for solid-state lighting technologies. Combining olive leaf extracts with NiFe2O4 nanoparticles provided effective antioxidant and antibacterial activity by reducing and stabilizing of nanoparticles. Moreover, all experimental results reveal new ideas for the design and optimization of multifunctional nanomaterials with higher sensitivity and pave the way for the production of new functional nanomaterials.

Innovative chelation strategies for facile synthesis of bimetallic nanomaterials with remarkable photocatalytic and biochemical activities

Biological and chemical chelations of nanoparticles are becoming increasingly popular due to their low cost and absence of harsh chemicals. In this study, palladium-nickel nanoparticles (PdNi NPs) were synthesized using a semi-organic auto-chelation method with Glycyrrhiza glabra L. plant as a biological chelating agent and oxalic acid (OA) for chemical chelation. The aim was to compare biological chelation and chemical chelation. The synthesized NPs were then compared for their photocatalytic and antibacterial applications. The nanomaterials synthesized for each method were analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and UV–VIS spectroscopy. The particle size of NPs synthesized with OA from the obtained structures was calculated as 22.48 nm. At the same time, the antibacterial activities of the acquired NPs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated. The results showed that NPs obtained by different synthesis methods provided 99.9 % inhibition against Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) within 24 h. Additionally, the photocatalytic effects of PdNi NPs on the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye were assessed. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity towards MB was similar in the nanoarchitectures obtained with both chelation agents. When biological and chemical chelation were compared after 90 min under sunlight, photodegradation rates were found to be approximately 50 % the same. The obtained results demonstrated that PdNi NPs synthesized using biological agents yielded similar outcomes in photocatalytic and antibacterial applications when compared to PdNi NPs synthesized using chemical agents. The findings provide evidence that NP synthesis with favorable characteristics can be accomplished without the requirement of chemical agents, showcasing the feasibility of a cost-effective and eco-friendly synthesis.

Low-temperature solvent-free synthesis route of blue and green luminescent phases of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (AlQ3)

Recent research studies have shifted towards simple, efficient, and more eco-friendly synthesis methods. The current study focuses on using a free-solvent reaction to synthesize trichelate 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) octahedral Al(III) coordination complex (AlQ3), which still represents the most widely used electroluminescent material in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). We have developed a new safe and easy route for synthesizing AlQ3 via a pure solid-state reaction between 8HQ and AlCl3 with sodium carbonate as an inorganic base. The formation of the free-solvent prepared AlQ3 was confirmed using FT-IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, SEM/EDS analysis, powder, and single crystal. Our investigation overturns the belief that fac-AlQ3 is only formed at high temperature; the developed synthesis method enabled the production of blue-fluorescent AlQ3 at room temperature. Furthermore, this study presents a low-temperature synthesis pathway for obtaining pure AlQ3 phases for the first time. We controlled the washing step of the isolated AlQ3 to produce large amounts of blue and green luminescent AlQ3. The optical properties of the samples were determined using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy.

Eco-friendly synthesis of biosorbent based in chitosan-activated carbon/zinc oxide nanoparticle beads for efficiency reduction of cadmium ions in wastewater

Eco-friendly synthesis of biosorbent based in chitosan-activated carbon/zinc oxide nanoparticle beads for efficiency reduction of cadmium ions in wastewater

Asparagus officinalis Herb-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots: Luminescent Probe for Medical Diagnostics.

The utilization of natural materials for the synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) presents a sustainable approach to overcome the challenges associated with traditional chemical precursors. Here, we report the synthesis of novel S,N-self-doped CQDs (S,N@CQDs) derived from asparagus officinalis herb. These S,N@CQDs exhibit 16.7 % fluorescence quantum yield, demonstrating their potential in medical diagnostics. We demonstrate the efficacy of S,N@CQDs as luminescent probes for the detection of anti-pathogenic medications metronidazole (MTZ) and nitazoxanide (NTZ) over concentration ranges of 0.0-180.0 μM (with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.064 μM) and 0.25-40.0 μM (LOD of 0.05 μM), respectively. The probes were successfully applied to determine MTZ and NTZ in medicinal samples, real samples, and spiked human plasma, with excellent recovery rates ranging from 99.82 % to 103.03 %. Additionally, S,N@CQDs demonstrate exceptional efficacy as diagnostic luminescent probes for hemoglobin (Hb) detection over a concentration range of 0-900 nM, with a minimal detectability of 9.24 nM, comparable to commercially available medical laboratory diagnostic tests. The eco-friendly synthesis and precise detection limits of S,N@CQDs meet necessary analytical requirements and hold promise for advancing diagnostic capabilities in clinical settings. This research signifies a significant step towards sustainable and efficient fluorescence-based medical diagnostics.

Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anti-cancer Properties of Bio -fabricated Copper-silver-zinc Nanocomposites: An Ecofriendly Approach

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have led to the development of bio-fabricated copper-silver-zinc nanocomposites, which exhibit multifunctional properties suitable for various applications. This study investigates their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and conductive properties through an eco-friendly synthesis approach. The nanocomposites were synthesized using Allium sativum extracts as reducing agents, ensuring minimal environmental impact and promoting sustainability. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH and ABTS, FRAP, Phosphomolybdenum and superoxide assays, demonstrating significant scavenging capabilities comparable to standard antioxidants. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed against Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli revealing potent inhibitory effects attributed to the synergistic action of copper, silver, and zinc nanocomposites (Cu-Ag-Zn-NC). Furthermore, the nanocomposites exhibited promising anticancer activity against breast cancer cells MCF-7, highlighting their potential as therapeutic agents. Electrical conductivity measurements confirmed their suitability for use in electronic applications, underscoring their versatility. This study underscores the eco-friendly synthesis of bio-fabricated copper-silver-zinc nanocomposites and their multifaceted properties, positioning them as promising candidates for biomedical, environmental, and technological applications.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Pandanus tectorius aerial root extract: Characterization, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and photocatalytic properties, and ecotoxicological assessment

Nanotechnology, a rapidly developing field of research, has several applications in various disciplines of applied science. The eco-friendly synthesis method presented here provides a sustainable alternative to traditional methods that frequently rely on harmful chemicals. Following the synthesis, the antibacterial and anti-cancer properties of the nanoparticles produced through this environmentally-friendly. In the present study, the reducing agents for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were aqueous extracts of the aerial root of Pandanus tectorius. The green synthesized Ag nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis, FTIR, XRD, and SEM, as well as EDX analysis. Artemia nauplii larvae were used to test the nanoparticles’ eco-toxicity, cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, and antibacterial activity using the well diffusion assay. The synthesized Ag-NPs exhibited maximum absorbance in the visible band at 415 nm. In the XRD spectrum of crystalline Ag-NPs, four prominent peaks with 2θ values of 38.12°, 54.14°, 64.18°, and 77.48° are observed. These peaks correspond to the crystallographic planes 111, 200, 220, and 311, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles SEM-TEM image revealed a spherical shape. EDX spectral peak was found at 3.0 keV. Maximum growth inhibitory activity was noticed against P. aeruginosa (14 mm) through determining the zones of inhibition on disc diffusion method. The studied bacterial strains have demonstrated effective inhibition by these Ag-NPs. In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of Ag-NPs exhibited an IC50 value of 47.58 μg/mL against HeLa cancer cells. Methylene blue (MB) dye degradation under solar radiation was investigated for its photocatalytic properties. The findings demonstrated that after 120 min in the light, MB deteriorated by 82.6 %. Overall, the results of this investigation suggest that Ag-NPs biosynthesized by P. tectorius may have photocatalytic, antibacterial and anticancer properties.

Eco-friendly synthesis of gold nanoparticles onto glassy carbon electrode and its application to DNA biosensor

Eco-friendly synthesis of gold nanoparticles onto glassy carbon electrode and its application to DNA biosensor

Utilizing <i>Chlorophytum comosum</i> Leaf Extract for Eco-friendly Synthesis of Iron-Based Nanoparticles: Assessing Their Efficacy in Methyl Orange Dye Degradation and Antimicrobial Activities

Utilizing <i>Chlorophytum comosum</i> Leaf Extract for Eco-friendly Synthesis of Iron-Based Nanoparticles: Assessing Their Efficacy in Methyl Orange Dye Degradation and Antimicrobial Activities

Eco-friendly synthesis of bimetallic FeCo nanocatalysts within heteroatom-doped carbon for oxygen reduction and zinc-air battery enhancement

Structural engineering emerges as a pivotal approach in crafting cost-effective and highly efficient catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), emphasizing large surface areas, abundant reactive sites, and enhanced porosity. The incorporation of trace non-precious metals can significantly boost ORR performance through structural refinement. Here, we report on the synthesis of bimetallic FeCo nanoparticles embedded within a heteroatoms-doped carbon framework utilizing eco-friendly chitosan. This configuration yields a catalyst with marked activity for ORR in alkaline conditions, attributable to synergistic effects among Fe, Co, N, and O dopants. Comparative analysis reveals the superior performance of the FeCo-NC variant, characterized by a higher degree of defects and disorders. The standout FeCo-NC800W sample, with its 347.616 m2/g surface area and pyrolysis-induced graphene coating exhibits optimal ORR activity, closely adhering to a four-electron transfer pathway. Moreover, this catalyst demonstrates remarkable longevity and methanol resistance in ORR applications. FeCo-NC800W surpasses the conventional 20% Pt/C + RuO2 cathode in peak power density in a zinc-air battery setup, highlighting its potential as a high-performance, sustainable electrocatalyst.

Enhanced antimicrobial activity of photocatalytic titanium oxide upon formation of composites with polyaniline via an eco-friendly and facile microwave synthesis approach

This study proposes inexpensive antimicrobial polyaniline-titanium oxide (PANI-TiO2) samples prepared through eco-friendly enhanced microwave (MW) synthesis with 93 W applied over 10 min in aqueous 1.25 M hydrochloric acid media (HCl) using potassium iodate (KIO3) as oxidising agent, an approach suitable for industrial scale up production of PANI polymers at room temperature. The PANI-TiO2 samples are produced in the presence of 5–20 wt% of TiO2 in the initial reaction mixture along with aniline monomer by both the enhanced MW method and a classical chemical synthesis (CS) method at room temperature. The nanocomposites showed lower conductivity than pure PANI, slightly higher conductivity was observed in the MW prepared PANI-TiO2 in comparison to CS prepared PANI-TiO2. This result can be correlated with the observation that the optical absorbance of MW PANI-TiO2 samples were notable higher than for CS PANI-TiO2, which may be due to the presence of a greater amount of polarons present in the samples prepared by the enhanced MW method. MW PANI-TiO2 samples were equally active against both Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus bacteria, in contrast to the CS PANI-TiO2 samples, which could be due to presence of short-chain fragments in the CS samples as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The incorporation of PANI particles in TiO2 showed enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to pure TiO2, with greater antifungal activity. Our study indicates that a facile, low-cost, and green enhanced MW method can be used for preparation of the advanced antimicrobial PANI-TiO2 nanocomposites for biomedical applications.

Eco-Friendly g-C3N4/Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Alginate Composite Hydrogels for Simultaneous Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dye Pollutants.

The presented study was focused on the simple, eco-friendly synthesis of composite hydrogels of crosslinked carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/alginate (SA) with encapsulated g-C3N4 nanoparticles. The structural, textural, morphological, optical, and mechanical properties were determined using different methods. The encapsulation of g-C3N4 into CMC/SA copolymer resulted in the formation of composite hydrogels with a coherent structure, enhanced porosity, excellent photostability, and good adhesion. The ability of composite hydrogels to eliminate structurally different dyes with the same or opposite charge properties (cationic Methylene Blue and anionic Orange G and Remazol Brilliant Blue R) in both single- and binary-dye systems was examined through adsorption and photocatalytic reactions. The interactions between the dyes and g-C3N4 and the negatively charged CMC/SA copolymers had a notable influence on both the adsorption capacity and photodegradation efficiency of the prepared composites. Scavenger studies and leaching tests were conducted to gain insights into the primary reactive species and to assess the stability and long-term performance of the g-C3N4/CMC/SA beads. The commendable photocatalytic activity and excellent recyclability, coupled with the elimination of costly catalyst separation requirements, render the g-C3N4/CMC/SA composite hydrogels cost-effective and environmentally friendly materials, and strongly support their selection for tackling environmental pollution issues.

Efficient removal of Eosin Yellow dye using solvothermal synthesised Ni/Al layered double hydroxide and layered double oxide: insights into adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics

ABSTRACT The accumulation of organic pollutants in the environment is swelling steadily and raising the alarm for their redressal. Layered double hydroxides (LDH) and layered double oxides (LDO) are gaining prominence for their potential to address this challenge. This work includes an eco-friendly facile solvothermal synthesis of Ni/Al LDH and their calcination to Ni/Al LDO. The prepared nanomaterials were characterised by XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, FT-IR, BET and TGA techniques, which confirm the highly porous structure of synthesised nanomaterials with a high specific area of 109.94 m2g−1 and 188.94 m2g−1 for Ni/Al LDH and Ni/Al LDO, respectively. A systematic study was conducted to explore the adsorptive potential of these materials towards the removal of organic dye Eosin Yellow (EY). The adsorptive efficiency was found to be 95% and 99% for Ni/Al LDH and Ni/Al LDO, respectively, under the optimised conditions of pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, dye concentration and temperature on adsorptive removal of EY dye, which was analysed by BBD-RSM (Box-Behnken Design Response surface methodology). The adsorption data fits best with the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The thermodynamic study confirms the exothermic adsorptive process. The durability and reusability of the synthesised adsorbents were ascertained by their retention of the adsorptive efficiency even after five adsorption-desorption cycles which were as high as 91% and 85% for Ni/Al LDH and Ni/Al LDO, respectively. The mechanism of adsorption involves electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding between the surface of adsorbent and adsorbate as well as intercalation of dye molecules.

Efficient eco-friendly synthesis of carbon nanotubes over graphite nanosheets from yellow corn: a one-step green approach

The present work reports the synthesis of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) over graphite nanosheets by an easy and simple approach without using any external catalyst. Simply, yellow corn seeds were thermally annealed in a hydrogen atmosphere at 1050 °C for 3 h without any pretreatments. Notably, the growth of MWCNTs was observed to preferentially occur on the outer surface of the corn shell. This uncomplicated approach not only emphasizes the feasibility of synthesizing carbon nanomaterials using agricultural by-products but also underscores the potential applications of these synthesized materials in various fields. Samples were examined through a comprehensive analysis employing various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The findings unveiled the formation of rolled graphene accompanied by the presence of vertical multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) positioned over stacked graphene sheets. This detailed characterization provides insights into the structural features and arrangement of the synthesized materials, paving the way for a deeper understanding of their potential applications. The pyrolysis temperature is a crucial factor in the morphological characteristics of the synthesized carbon nanostructures. While graphene cage-like structures were obtained at 800 °C, small carbon nanotubes were grafted to larger ones and formed three-dimensional hierarchical morphologies when the annealing temperature increased to 900 °C. The growth mechanism of the carbon nanotubes was explained based on the jet self-extrusion of the generated gases through the inherent pores of the corn seeds. The current technique employed in manufacturing MWCNTs shows significant promise as a green synthesis method for producing catalyst-free MWCNTs suitable for industrial applications including sensors and energy storage materials.

Pongamia pinnata seed extract-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticle loaded nanogel for estimation of their antipsoriatic properties.

This research describes the eco-friendly green synthesis of silver nanoparticles employing Pongamia pinnata seed extracts loaded with nanogel formulations (AgNPs CUD NG) to improve the retention, accumulation, and the penetration of AgNPs into the epidermal layer of psoriasis. AgNPs were synthesized using the Box-Behnken design. Optimized AgNPs and AgNPs CUD NG were physico-chemically evaluated using UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, FT-IR, PXRD, viscosity, spreadability, and retention studies. It was also functionally assessed using an imiquimod-induced rat model. The entrapment efficiency of AgNPs revealed ~ 79.35%. Physico-chemical parameters announced the formation of AgNPs via surface plasmon resonance and interaction between O-H, C = O, and amide I carbonyl group of protein extract and AgNO3. Optimized AgNPs showed spherical NPs ~ 116nm with better physical stability and suitability for transdermal applications. AgNPs CUD NG revealed non-Newtonian, higher spreadability, and better extrudability, indicating its suitability for a transdermal route. AgNPs CUD NG enhanced the retention of AgNPs on the psoriatic skin compared to normal skin. Optimized formulations exhibit no irritation by the end of 72h, indicating formulation safety. AgNPs CUD NG at a dose of 1 FTU showed significant recovery from psoriasis with a PASI score of ~ 0.8 compared to NG base and marketed formulations. Results indicated that seed extract-assisted AgNPs in association with CUD-based NG formulations could be a promising nanocarrier for psoriasis and other skin disorders.

Cytotoxic evaluation of Dovyalis Caffra leaf extract-mediated hematite-(Fe2O3) nanoparticles for biological applications

Although hematite (Fe2O3) nanoparticles are gaining attention for biomedical purposes due to their unique properties, eco-friendly synthesis using plant extracts is being explored due to toxicity concerns of the resulting material. This study explores the use of plant extracts (Dovyalis caffra leaf extracts) for the synthesis of Fe2O3 nanoparticles alongside their cytotoxicity profile using human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) and human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The physicochemical properties of the prepared nanoparticles were established using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and microscopy techniques, confirming their crystalline nature and spherical morphology with minimal agglomeration. Using the MTT assay approach, the cytotoxicity profile of the nanoparticles revealed dose-dependent cytotoxic effects, with higher specificity towards cancer cells and very low toxicity towards the human cell line, suggesting safe usage as biomedical agents. While the standard drug 5-Fluorouracil possessed significantly higher cytotoxicity, its unwanted high toxicity towards normal human cells makes the Fe2O3 nanoparticles a better choice. These findings suggest the potential of Dovyalis caffra leaf extract-mediated Fe2O3 nanoparticles for biomedical applications, emphasizing their low toxicity towards normal human cells and specificity towards cancer cells.