“Synthesizing and Characterizing Plant-Mediated Biocompatible Metal Nanoparticles” is intended to function as a comprehensive guide for various stakeholders. Its purpose is to lead them through the domain of synthesizing and characterizing plant-mediated biocompatible metal nanoparticles, exploring numerous applications from fostering a sustainable environment to diverse nanotechnological applications, drug discovery, cancer treatment, and beyond. The book also addresses a broad spectrum of societal and technological challenges and related issues, thereby assisting stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, academic institutions, and industries, in making informed decisions within this rapidly evolving field in our dynamic and contemporary scientific society.
The fascination with noble metallic nanoparticles is ignited by their minuscule size, typically spanning from 1 nm to 100 nm, offering a captivating blend of high surface-to-volume ratio and extraordinary physical, chemical, and biological attributes. These distinctive qualities have propelled significant scientific and technological exploration, unlocking diverse applications across numerous fields.
The production of metal nanoparticles involves physical, chemical, and green approaches. However, the employment of hazardous chemicals is essential in physical and chemical techniques for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Moreover, these methods are costly and involve complex steps and parameters, including pressure, temperature, and other conditions, to control growth, interaction kinetics, and achieve the desired structure, shape, size, stability, and other properties vital for their intended applications. Apart from economic and technical challenges, the release of metal nanoparticles, resulting from various sources such as production, contaminated water, or household items like antibacterial coatings/paintings, beyond tolerance levels, poses significant risks to humans, animals, plants, and the environment, exacerbating the potential adverse effects.
Addressing these challenges, scientists have adopted green synthesis, also recognized as the biological synthesis of nanoparticles. The green approach presents clear benefits, including non-toxicity, environmental friendliness, efficiency in terms of time, and cost-effectiveness when contrasted with traditional physical and chemical synthesis methods. This innovative technique involves utilizing various components of plants (leaves, roots, flowers, fruits, barks, etc.) and microorganisms (fungi, algae, bacteria, etc.) to create biocompatible and stable metal nanoparticles in an eco-friendly fashion. Moreover, nanoparticles synthesized through the green approach exhibit an augmented level of stability and biocompatibility with cells and tissues, correlating with a reduction in particle size compared to those produced through physical and chemical pathways. As a result, the green synthesis technique has emerged as a promising avenue for advancing the development of metal nanoparticles in recent years.
Various elements of medicinal plants, encompassing roots, seeds, peels, flowers, barks, etc., stand out as abundant reservoirs of minerals, vitamins, and metabolites (biocompounds). These compounds prove valuable in addressing a myriad of health-related disorders and ailments, including but not limited to oxidative stress, allergies, diabetes, inflammation, ulcers, arthritis, osteoporosis, wounds, pain, burns, fevers, and even cancer.
Plant metabolites function as both reducing agents, converting ions into metals, and as capping and stabilizing agents that ensure the size and shape stability of the resulting nanoparticles. Notably, polyphenol compounds play a key role in this process due to their robust reducing properties and the heightened stability they bring to the synthesized nanoparticles. Extracts obtained from various parts of medicinal plants have played a crucial role in facilitating the creation of a diverse range of nanoparticles and their oxides, including gold NPs (AuNPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), silver oxide NPs (Ag2ONPs), zinc oxide NPs (ZnONPs), copper NPs (CuNPs), platinum NPs (PtNPs), and iron NPs (FeNPs).
Consequently, the integration of plant-based elements into the synthesis of novel metal nanoparticles, recognized as Phytonanotechnology, emerges as a pivotal focus in contemporary research. This specialized field accentuates the utilization of plant-derived materials, particularly bioactive compounds, within the domain of nanotechnology/nanobiotechnology.
These biogenic, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and stable nanomaterials hold great potential for a myriad of applications across various sectors. They exhibit various promising applications, spanning from contributions to a sustainable environment to targeted drug delivery for various life-threatening diseases.
This book “Synthesizing and Characterizing Plant-Mediated Biocompatible Metal Nanoparticles” will delve into diverse synthesis processes for environmentally benign bionanoparticles utilizing various medicinal plants. It will explore associated parameters, such as extracts from different plant parts (e.g., seeds, peels, roots, and flowers), as well as physical and thermal conditions (e.g., temperature, pH levels, and concentrations) to regulate reaction kinetics. Characterizations (including crystal structure, shape, size, surface roughness, etc.) of these biosynthesized particles using various spectroscopic analytical techniques will be discussed in detail. These characterization techniques encompass Ultra-Violet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrometer, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) measurements, zeta potential measurements, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), among others. Furthermore, AI is playing a vital role in targeted drug delivery, and imaging field in nanobiotechnology.
The book will assess the efficacy of these nanoparticles in various applications such as environmental cleanup, disinfection, wastewater treatment, dye degradation, the food industry, animal husbandry, dairy products, agriculture, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, dental restoration, cytotoxic, genotoxic, catalytic, and wound-healing properties, among other beneficial attributes. It will also explore the possible applications of AI in nanobiotechnology. Furthermore, it will delve into the forthcoming challenges and opportunities, along with essential ethical considerations and protocols to be adhered to in this research field.
Hence, the suggested book title “Synthesizing and Characterizing Plant-Mediated Biocompatible Metal Nanoparticles” is designed to steer stakeholders into the realm of biocompatible metal nanoparticles synthesized through plant assisted green methods, exploring their diverse characterizations and numerous promising applications. Its objective is to assist them in making well-informed decisions within this burgeoning field in our ever evolving and contemporary scientific society, tackling a wide spectrum of societal and technological challenges, and associated issues. These challenges range from fostering a sustainable environment to embracing diverse nanotechnological applications, drug discovery, cancer treatment, and more.