Green Biosynthesis of Nanostructures and Their Applications

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2021) | Viewed by 8212

Special Issue Editors

CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: biopolymers; nanomaterials; metal nanoparticles; bionanocomposites; green synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: production and application of biogenic nanofibers (bacterial cellulose and protein fibrils); nanostructured biocomposites; bio-based materials for biomedical applications (wound healing, drug delivery and 3D-bioprinting); biocomposites and functional paper materials; chemical modification of (nano)cellulose fibers and other polysaccharides and their characterization and applications; chemistry of lignocellulosic materials (cellulose, wood, cork, etc.)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our planet is walking to a point of no return in terms of resources and pollution. Awareness about these global problems has been growing in recent years, bringing together efforts from funding agencies, governments, and researchers. These efforts include the search for greener and sustainable production methodologies and materials. This is also a reality in the field of nanostructured materials, where green biosynthesis has emerged as a powerful design tool.

This eco-friendly approach that comprises the use of different microorganisms, plants, or plant extracts has attracted great attention due to the high diversity of raw materials, their abundance, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. The potential of this field is undeniable, as verified by the exponential growth of publications covering the preparation of distinct types of nanostructures (e.g., nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes) with a variety of compositions and properties for an immensity of applications.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will cover the recent advancements on the green synthesis of nanostructured materials and their innovative applications.

Dr. Ricardo J.B. Pinto
Dr. Carmen S.R. Freire
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • green synthesis
  • renewable resources
  • plant extracts
  • nanoparticles
  • nanowires
  • nanotubes

Published Papers (2 papers)

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22 pages, 2264 KiB  
Article
Sono-Biosynthesis and Characterization of AuNPs from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba Root Extracts and Their Biological Properties
by Mihaela Cudalbeanu, David Peitinho, Francisco Silva, Rosa Marques, Teresa Pinheiro, Ana C. Ferreira, Fernanda Marques, António Paulo, Catarina F. Soeiro, Sílvia Andreia Sousa, Jorge Humberto Leitão, Aurel Tăbăcaru, Sorin Marius Avramescu, Rodica Mihaela Dinica and Maria Paula Cabral Campello
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1562; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11061562 - 14 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3814
Abstract
Root extracts from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba were used to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPRn) by reducing HAuCl4 at different pHs (6.4–8.4) using ultrasonic irradiation: an easy, cheap, eco-friendly and green approach. Their antibacterial and anticancer activities were evaluated against Staphylococcus [...] Read more.
Root extracts from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba were used to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPRn) by reducing HAuCl4 at different pHs (6.4–8.4) using ultrasonic irradiation: an easy, cheap, eco-friendly and green approach. Their antibacterial and anticancer activities were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and A2780 ovarian cancer cells, respectively. The AuNPRn were characterized concerning their phytoconstituents (polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins) and gold content. All of the nanoparticles were negatively charged. AuNPRn exhibited a hydrodynamic size distribution ranging from 32 nm to 280 nm, with the larger nanoparticles being obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.56, pH 7 and 10 min of sonication (AuNPR1), whereas the smallest were obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.24, pH 7.8 and 40 min of sonication (AuNPR4). The TEM/SEM images showed that the AuNPRn had different shapes. The ATR-FTIR indicated that AuNPRn interact mainly with hydroxyl groups present in the polyphenol compounds, which also confirm their high antioxidant capacity, except for AuNPR2 obtained at pH 6.4. Among the AuNPRn, the smallest ones exhibited enhanced antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Biosynthesis of Nanostructures and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 4523 KiB  
Article
Biogenic ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized Using a Novel Plant Extract: Application to Enhance Physiological and Biochemical Traits in Maize
by Daniele Del Buono, Alessandro Di Michele, Ferdinando Costantino, Marco Trevisan and Luigi Lucini
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1270; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11051270 - 12 May 2021
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 3630
Abstract
The need to increase crop productivity and resistance directs interest in nanotechnology. Indeed, biogenic metal oxide nanoparticles can promote beneficial effects in plants, while their synthesis avoids the environmental impacts of conventional synthetic procedures. In this context, this research aimed to synthesize biogenic [...] Read more.
The need to increase crop productivity and resistance directs interest in nanotechnology. Indeed, biogenic metal oxide nanoparticles can promote beneficial effects in plants, while their synthesis avoids the environmental impacts of conventional synthetic procedures. In this context, this research aimed to synthesize biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using, for the first time, an extract of a wild and spontaneous aquatic species, Lemna minor (duckweed). The effectiveness of this biogenic synthesis was evidenced for comparison with non-biogenic ZnO-NPs (obtained without using the plant extract), which have been synthesized in this research. XRD (X-ray diffraction), FE-SEM (field emission gun electron scanning microscopy), EDX (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscope) and UV-vis (ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry) showed the biogenic approach effectiveness. The duckweed extract was subjected to UHPLC-ESI/QTOF-MS (ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry) phenolic profiling. This untargeted characterization highlighted a high and chemically diverse content in the duckweed extract of compounds potentially implicated in nanoparticulation. From an application standpoint, the effect of biogenic nanoparticles was investigated on some traits of maize subjected to seed priming with a wide range of biogenic ZnO-NPs concentrations. Inductive effects on the shoot and root biomass development were ascertained concerning the applied dosage. Furthermore, the biogenic ZnO-NPs stimulated the content of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and anthocyanin. Finally, the study of malondialdehyde content (MDA) as a marker of the oxidative status further highlighted the beneficial and positive action of the biogenic ZnO-NPs on maize. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Biosynthesis of Nanostructures and Their Applications)
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