Phytonanotechnology

Challenges and Prospects

N. Thajuddin, Silvy Mathew, N. Thajuddin, Silvy Mathew

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9780128223536
• Topic: Technik & Maschinenbau
• Subtopic: Werkstoffwissenschaft

Phytonanotechnology: Challenges and Prospects consolidates information on the use of phytonanoparticles for biomedical, environmental and agricultural applications, covering recent advances in experimental and theoretical studies on various properties of nanoparticles derived from plant sources. The book deals with various attributes of phytonanoparticles, discussing their current and potential applications. In addition, it explores the development of phytonanoparticles, synthesis techniques, characterization techniques, environmental remediation applications, anti-microbial properties, miscellaneous applications, and multi-functional applications. Risks associated with nanoparticles are also discussed.

This book is an important reference for materials scientists, engineers, environmental scientists, food scientists and biomedical scientists who want to learn more about the applications of nanoparticles derived from plant sources.

• Explores synthesis methods of phytonanoparticles from a variety of plant groups
• Discusses the major biological reactions of phytonanoparticles
• Outlines the major opportunities and challenges of using phytonanoparticles in biomedical, environmental and agricultural applications

Chapter 1

Phytonanotechnology: A historical perspective, current challenges, and prospects

Silvy Mathew Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur, Kerala, India

Abstract

The utilization of various plant resources for the biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles is newly termed as phytonanotechnology, and it does not make use of any detrimental chemical protocols. The plant-mediated synthesis of silver, gold, copper, and zinc nanoparticles uses extracts from different parts of plants, which can act as reducing and capping agents. These nanoparticles can be characterized by ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; the size of the silver nanoparticles can also be measurable. The synthesis of nanoparticles by using plant resources is an ecofriendly, reliable process while also being suitable for large-scale production. Moreover, it is a rapid and easy-to-handle process when compared to the chemical, physical, and microbe-mediated synthesis processes.

Keywords

Phytonanotechnology; Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy; X-ray diffraction; Scanning electron microscopy; Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

1.1 Introduction

Phytonanotechnology is a recent and promising area of research in modern medical science. Nanoparticles are a special group of materials with exclusive features and extensive applications in diverse fields. Nanoparticles are considered a bridge between atomic structures and the bulk size of materials. Moreover, inorganic nanoparticles have unique features due to their small size and large surface-to-mass ratio. Different types of metallic nanoparticles have been prepared, including gold and silver nanomaterials that have gained huge attention due to their high performance in many scientific fields, such as optics, catalysis, and biosensing. Nanoparticles display new or advanced properties depending upon their size, morphology, and distribution. Currently, plant extracts have been used as reducing and capping agents for the production of nanoparticles, which could be advantageous over microbial synthesis because there is no need for the sophisticated process of culturing and keeping the cell. The literature on the plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles supports the wide use of plants, microorganisms, and biopolymers as biological agents with very few reports of animal sources. Plant parts such as leaves, bark, roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, etc., are used in the synthesis. Many plants with effective activities are utilized as sources for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs).

The physical and chemical processes for nanoparticle fabrication are classical general methods, but they are not environmentally friendly and create some hazardous effects in biomedical application levels [1, 2]. A number of synthetic methods have been employed for nanoparticle synthesis involving physical, chemical, and biochemical techniques [3].

Chemical-based synthesis techniques are often discouraged as they involve the use of noxious reducing and/or stabilizing agents such as sodium borohydride, N, N-dimethylformamide, and toxic solvents. In modern science, the increasing importance on green chemistry focuses efforts on compounds such as glucose, chitosan, soluble starch, some microorganisms, etc. Nanoparticle synthesis through biochemical routes using plant extracts as reducing and capping agents has received special attention among others, due to maintaining an aseptic environment during the process [4]. Thus, the plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles has captured interest in modern nanoscience and technology due to its ecofriendly nature and its flexibility. Consequently, medicinal plants with well-established therapeutic importance are being extensively used for the size- and shape-controlled synthesis of nanoparticles.

In the plant-assisted development of nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles are important materials that have been studied extensively. They can be synthesized by several physical, chemical, and biological methods [5]. The main method considered is plant-assisted reduction due to phytochemicals. The main phytochemicals involved are terpenoids, flavones, ketones, aldehydes, amides, and carboxylic acids. Flavones, organic acids, and quinones are water-soluble phytochemicals that are responsible for the instant reduction of the ions. The antimicrobial and antiinflammatory nature of silver nanoparticles shows the much-exploited nature of silver nanoparticles in the medical field.

Nanoparticles, especially silver nanoparticles, have found tremendous applications in the areas of catalysis, optoelectronics, detection, diagnostics, antimicrobials, and therapeutics due to their better catalytic, optical, and electrical properties [6]. Amin et al. [7] studied the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles through reduction with Solanum xanthocarpum L. berry extract. They found antimicrobial and urease inhibitory activities against Helicobacter pylori and compared that with AgNO₃ and four standard drugs, namely amoxicillin (AMX), clarithromycin (CLA), metronidazole (MNZ), and tetracycline (TET), being used against Helicobacter pylori. In this study, the nanoparticles were found to be about 10 nm in size, monodispersed in nature, and spherical in shape [7]. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Tephrosia tinctoria showed antidiabetic ability by significant free radical scavenging, the inhibition of carbohydrate digestive enzymes (α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase), and the enhancement of the glucose uptake rate [8]. Different parts of the plants are used for making nanoparticles, such as leaves [9–17].

Biomolecules found in plants induce the reduction of Ag⁺ ions from silver nitrate to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The...