Controlled growth of ZnO nanoparticles using ethanolic root extract of Japanese knotweed: photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties

Binding properties and biological applications of green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles from neem flower

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles exhibit distinctive electronics, sensors, and biomedical applications. The present work aims to synthesize an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable approach for the fabrication of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). An aqueous extract of neem flowers was used to fabricate the ZnO NPs as a natural reducing and capping agent. Analytical techniques, including UV-Vis, TEM, FTIR, FESEM, XRD, zeta potential analysis, and TGA confirmed the successful formation, crystalline nature, and stability of the ZnO NPs. The synthesized ZnO NPs were confirmed by the peak at 363 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum. The average particle size was found between 30 ~ 60 nm by FESEM, TEM, and Particle Size Analysis. The ZnO NP shows the highest % of inhibition was found to be > 80% in antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial assays show promising activity against pathogens. Moreover, their interaction with biomolecules such as DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) demonstrated strong binding affinity, highlighting their potential for biomedical applications. Cytotoxicity analysis using HEK-293 cells revealed minimal toxicity, suggesting that these nanoparticles are safe for normal cells. This study highlights the potential of green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles as a promising option for therapeutic, antimicrobial, and bioengineering applications.

A Review of Plant-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles for Photodegradation and Antibacterial Applications

This review focuses on the synthesis of plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and their applications for antibacterial and photocatalytic degradation of dyes, thereby addressing the need for sustainable and eco-friendly methods for the preparation of NPs. Driven by the significant rise in antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution from dye pollution, there is a need for more effective antibacterial agents and photocatalysts. Therefore, this review explores the synthesis of plant-mediated ZnO NPs, and the influence of reaction parameters such as pH, annealing temperature, plant extract concentration, etc. Additionally, it also looks at the application of plant-mediated ZnO NPs for antibacterial and photodegradation of dyes, focusing on the influence of the properties of the plant-mediated ZnO NPs such as size, shape, and bandgap on the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity. The findings suggest that properties such as shape and size are influenced by reaction parameters and these properties also influence the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity of plant-mediated ZnO NPs. This review concludes that plant-mediated ZnO NPs have the potential to advance green and sustainable materials in antibacterial and photocatalysis applications.

Green synthesis of ZnO nanocubes from Ceropegia omissa H. Huber extract for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol An under visible light to mitigate water pollution

Plastic pollution has become a major environmental problem because it does not break down and poses risks to ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the environmentally friendly synthesis of ZnO nanocubes using an extract from Ceropegia omissa H. Huber plant leaves. The primary goal is to investigate the viability of these nanocubes as visible-light photocatalysts for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The synthesized ZnO nanocubes have a highly crystalline structure and a bandgap of 3.1 eV, making them suitable for effective visible-light photocatalysis. FTIR analysis, which demonstrates that the pertinent functional groups are present, demonstrates the chemical bonding and reducing processes that take place in the plant extract. The XPS method also studies zinc metals, oxygen valencies, and binding energies. Under visible light irradiation, ZnO nanocubes degrade BPA by 86% in 30 min. This plant-extract-based green synthesis method provides a long-term replacement for traditional procedures, and visible light photocatalysis has advantages over ultraviolet light. The study's results show that ZnO nanocubes may be good for the environment and can work well as visible light photocatalysts to break down organic pollutants. This adds to what is known about using nanoparticles to clean up the environment. As a result, this study highlights the potential of using environmentally friendly ZnO nanocubes as a long-lasting and efficient method of reducing organic pollutant contamination in aquatic environments.

Recent advancements in sustainable synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using various plant extracts for environmental remediation

The sustainable synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using plant extracts has gained significant attention in recent years due to its eco-friendly nature and potential applications in numerous fields. This synthetic approach reduces the reliance on non-renewable resources and eliminates the need for hazardous chemicals, minimizing environmental pollution and human health risks. These ZnO-NPs can be used in environmental remediation applications, such as wastewater treatment or soil remediation, effectively removing pollutants and improving overall ecosystem health. These NPs possess a high surface area and band gap of 3.2 eV, can produce both OH° (hydroxide) and O2-° (superoxide) radicals for the generation of holes (h+) and electrons (e-), resulting in oxidation and reduction of the pollutants in their valence band (VB) and conduction band (CB) resulting in degradation of dyes (95-100% degradation of MB, MO, and RhB dyes), reduction and removal of heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Pb2+, Cr6+, etc.), degradation of pharmaceutical compounds (paracetamol, urea, fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin)) using photocatalysis. Here, we review an overview of various plant extracts used for the green synthesis of ZnO NPs and their potential applications in environmental remediation including photocatalysis, adsorption, and heavy metal remediation. This review summarizes the most recent studies and further research perspectives to explore their applications in various fields.