Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles: A review of the synthesis methodology and mechanism of formation

Zinc oxide is of significant importance for many industries due to its versatile properties, which have been enhanced with the production of this material in the nanoscale. Nonetheless, the increase in concerns related to environmental impact has led to the development of eco-friendly processes for its production. Recent interest in obtaining metal and metal oxide nanoparticles using biological approaches has been reported in the literature. This method was termed ‘green synthesis’ as it is a less hazardous process than chemical and physical synthesis methods currently used in the industry to obtain these nanomaterials. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been successfully obtained by green synthesis using different biological substrates. However, large scale production using green synthesis approaches remains a challenge due to the complexity of the biological extracts that poses a barrier onto the elucidation of the reactions and mechanism of formation that occur during the synthesis. Hence, the current review includes a summary of the different sources of biological substrates and methodologies applied to the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and the impact on their properties. This work also describes the advances on the understanding of the mechanism routes reported in the literature.     

Eco-friendly synthesis of isatin-thiazolidine hybrid using graphene oxide catalyst in deep eutectic solvent and further evaluated for antibacterial,anticancer and cytotoxic agents

The utilization of green syntheses is important for reducing environmental pollution. Many synthetic approaches have been developed for the synthesis of isatin-thiazolidine hybrids. However, none of these methods directly address a green methodology for the synthesis of this key organic scaffold. This work deals with the synthesis of isatin-thiazolidine hybrids using graphene oxide (GO) catalyst in deep eutectic solvent (DES) as a green media. Synthesized compounds were evaluated for in-vitro antibacterial, anticancer and cytotoxic activities. The tested compounds exhibited more antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. The compounds were observed to contain electron-withdrawing groups which displayed more bacterial inhibition. In summary, the current study reports that eco-friendly graphene oxide together with deep eutectic solvent catalyzed the synthesis of isatin-thiazolidine hybrids, whereby a high product yield was achieved in a short space of time. Although, newly synthesized compounds could not produce efficient biological activity, cytotoxicity instead.     

Nano-based antileishmanial agents: A toxicological study on nanoparticles for future treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the tropical and subtropical countries. Antileishmanial drugs that are traditionally used for treatment of CL are mainly toxic, ineffective for some parasite isolates, and mostly expensive. Previous studies showed that some metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the use of nanoparticles together with ultra violet (UV) and infra red (IR) light increases toxic effects of nanoparticles by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and heat, respectively. There is little information on antileishmanial activity of nanoparticles, alone or together with UV/IR. Thus, the purpose of this research was to study antileishmanial effects of some nanoparticles including silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), and magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) on Leishmania major parasites under UV, IR, and dark conditions. After 24 h exposure to nanoparticles, different biological parameters such as cell viability, proliferation, infectivity, and infection index were investigated under UV/IR/dark conditions. In this study, the highest antileishmanial activity was seen for Ag NPs, followed by Au NPs, TiO₂ NPs, ZnO NPs, and MgO NPs. Both UV and IR light increased antileishmanial properties of all nanoparticles. In spite of antileishmanial activity of nanoparticles under UV, IR, and dark conditions, these nanoparticles had high cytotoxicity on macrophages, which must be considered in future studies. The authors declare that the use of nanoparticles for treatment of CL may have both positive and negative consequences.     

Green nanotechnology – A new hope for medical biology

The development of eco-friendly technologies in material synthesis is of considerable importance to expand their biological applications. Nowadays, a variety of green nanoparticles with well-defined chemical composition, size, and morphology have been synthesized by different methods and their applications in many cutting-edge technological areas have been explored. This review highlights the classification of nanoparticles giving special emphasis on biosynthesis of metal nanoparticle by viable organisms. It also focuses on the applications of these biosynthesized nanoparticles in a wide spectrum of potential areas of medical biology including catalysis, targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, antibacterial agents and as biosensors.     

Biological synthesis of metallic nanoparticles

The synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is an active area of academic and, more importantly, “application research” in nanotechnology. A variety of chemical and physical procedures could be used for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. However, these methods are fraught with many problems including use of toxic solvents, generation of hazardous by-products, and high energy consumption. Accordingly, there is an essential need to develop environmentally benign procedures for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. A promising approach to achieve this objective is to exploit the array of biological resources in nature. Indeed, over the past several years, plants, algae, fungi, bacteria, and viruses have been used for production of low-cost, energy-efficient, and nontoxic metallic nanoparticles. In this review, we provide an overview of various reports of synthesis of metallic nanoparticles by biological means.From the Clinical EditorThis review provides an overview of various methods of synthesis of metallic nanoparticles by biological means. Many chemical and physical procedures used for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles are fraught with major problems: toxic solvents, hazardous by-products, high energy consumption. Over the past several years, plants, algae, fungi, bacteria, and viruses have been used for production of low-cost, energy-efficient, and nontoxic metallic nanoparticles.     

C-nitroso compounds: synthesis, physicochemical properties and biological activities

Because of the chemical and physical properties of nitric oxide, its effective use and delivery for therapeutic application represents a significant challenge. Accordingly, current understanding of nitric oxide biology largely stems from the use of nitric oxide prodrugs and adducts whose biological activities are based on their ability to release nitric oxide or a redox-related species. Among the structurally diverse ensemble of nitric oxide donor compounds reported to date are the C-nitroso compounds. These compounds have only recently been investigated with respect to their potential as nitric oxide donors, although they have been known and studied for over 120 years. Here, we consider the synthesis and physico-chemical properties of the C-nitroso compounds and the available data regarding their biological activities. Synthetic methods reviewed include direct substitution of H by NO, oxidative approaches, and the addition of various oxides of nitrogen across multiple bonds. The electronic spectra of C-nitroso compounds and the mechanism and thermodynamics of monomer-dimer equilibration are described. The physico-chemical and biological properties of two related classes of compounds, the diazetine dioxides and the furoxans, are also described.     

Experimental and chemometric strategies for the development of Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) spectroscopic methods for the determination of organic pollutants in natural waters

The development of Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) methods is one of the most active areas of Green Chemistry. Especially relevant are GAC methods devoted to the detection and quantification of environmental pollutants, because they should not pollute the environment more than the analyte to be determined. While considerable attention has been paid to develop environmentally friendly alternatives for the first stage of the global analytical process (e.g., sample preparation techniques), relatively fewer works are dedicated to implement green approaches for obtaining the analytical signal. Current strategies that are based on the principles of Green Chemistry for the determination of common organic pollutants in natural waters are detailed. The review collects and discusses selected publications from about the last 5 years relating to the topic, highlighting the role of multivariate calibration as a modern and very useful tool to achieve the pursued objectives.     

Lectin coated MgO nanoparticle: its toxicity,antileishmanial activity,and macrophage activation

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate toxicity of uncoated magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs), MgO NPs coated with Peanut agglutinin (PNA) lectin, and PNA alone on the promastigotes of Leishmania major (L. major) and macrophages of BALB/c mice. On the other hand, antileishmanial property of uncoated MgO NPs, lectin coated MgO NPs, and PNA lectin alone was evaluated, and also macrophage activation was investigated after treatment with these materials by measurement of nitrite, H₂O₂, and some interleukins. This study showed that PNA lectin and lectin coated MgO NPs had approximately no toxicity on L. major and macrophages, but some toxic effects were observed for uncoated MgO NPs, especially at concentration of 500?µg/mL. Interestingly, lectin coated MgO NPs had the highest antileishmanial activity and macrophage activation, compared with uncoated MgO NPs and PNA lectin.     

New insights in the acute toxic/genotoxic effects of CuO nanoparticles in the in vivo Drosophila model

Metal oxide nanoparticles are highly reactive from the biological point of view and, for this reason, it exists important reservations in regard human health impact. We used Drosophila as a promising in vivo model to diagnose the biological effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). Due to the potential role of ions release the effects of CuO-NPs were compared with those induced by copper sulfate, CuSO₄. A wide battery of approaches has been used including toxicity, cell and body internalization, induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as changes in gene expression, related to both general stress and alterations in the intestinal barrier, and genotoxicity. The obtained results show that CuO-NPs have the ability to be distributed inside midgut cells and translocate to the general body compartment (internal hemolymph) interacting with hemocytes. Its exposure leads to reduced larval growth, decreased flies viability, delaying their emergency periods, especially at higher doses (2 and 10?mM). Moreover, deregulation of stress genes including antioxidant genes, and genes involved in wound healing were also observed. In this point it should be emphasized the novelty of using genes such as Duox, Upd3, PPO2, and Hml to determine injury on the intestinal barrier. On the other hand, CuO-NPs had non-genotoxic potential, in agreement with their inability to increase ROS production. In general dissolved copper produced higher toxic/genotoxic effects than those induced by CuO-NPs which would indicate that copper ions alone are more important in inducing harmful effects than copper nanoparticles itself.     

Self-assembled multifunctional Fe/MgO nanospheres for magnetic resonance imaging and hyperthermia

A one-step process for the production of nanoparticles presenting advanced magnetic properties can be achieved using vapor condensation. In this article, we report on the fabrication of Fe particles covered by a uniform MgO epitaxial shell. MgO has a lower surface energy than Fe, which results in a core-shell crystal formation. The particles satisfy a few of technical requirements for the practical use in real clinics, such as a high biocompatibility in living cells in-vitro, an injection through blood vessels without any clothing problems in murine model, a high absorption rate for magnetic hyperthermia at small particle concentration, and the potential to be used as contrast agent in the field of diagnostic magnetic imaging. They are also able to be used in drug delivery and magnetic-activated cell sorting.From the Clinical EditorIn this paper, the authors report on the synthesis of Fe particles covered by a uniform MgO epitaxial shell resulting in a core-shell crystal formation. The particles are proven to be useful as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and have the potential to be useful as heating mediators for cancer therapy through hyperthermia. They also might be used in drug delivery and magnetic-activated cell sorting.     

Improved antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of magnesium fluoride nanoparticles obtained by water-based ultrasound chemistry

Antibiotic resistance has prompted the search for new agents that can inhibit bacterial growth. We recently reported on the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of nanosized magnesium fluoride (MgF₂) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized in ionic liquid using microwave chemistry. In this article, we describe a novel water-based synthesis of MgF₂ NPs using sonochemistry. The sonochemical irradiation of an aqueous solution of [Mg(OAc)₂?(H₂O)₄] containing acidic HF as the fluorine ion source afforded crystalline well-shaped spherical MgF₂ NPs that showed much improved antibacterial properties against two common bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). We were also able to demonstrate that the antimicrobial activity was dependent on the size of the NPs. In addition, using the described sonochemical process, we coated glass surfaces and demonstrated inhibition of bacterial colonization for 7 days. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of MgF₂ NPs against established biofilms was also examined. Taken together our results highlight the potential to further develop the concept of utilizing these metal fluoride NPs as novel antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents.From the Clinical EditorIn this article, the authors describe a novel aqueous synthesis of magnesium fluoride NPs using sonochemistry. These nanoparticles have improved antibacterial and antibiofilm activity compared to their counterparts with traditional synthesis methods.     

Cyclotides as a basis for drug design

INTRODUCTION: Cyclotides are plant-made defence proteins with a head-to-tail cyclic backbone combined with a conserved, six cystine knot. They have a range of biological activities, including uterotonic and anti-HIV activity, which have attracted attention to their potential pharmaceutical applications. Furthermore, their unique structures and high stability make them appealing as peptide-based templates for drug design applications. Methods have been developed for their production, including solid phase peptide synthesis as well as recombinant methods. AREAS COVERED: This article reviews the recent literature associated with therapeutic applications of naturally occurring and synthetically modified cyclotides. It includes applications of cyclotides and cyclotide-like molecules as peptide-based drug leads and diagnostic agents. EXPERT OPINION: The ultra-stable cyclotides are promising templates for drug development applications and are currently being assessed for the potential breadth of their applications. For synthetic versions of cyclotides to enter human clinical trials further studies to examine their biopharmaceutical properties and toxicities are required. However, several promising proof-of-concept studies have established that pharmaceutically relevant bioactive peptide sequences can be grafted into cyclotide frameworks and thereby stabilised, while maintaining biological activity. These studies include examples directed at cancer, cardiovascular disease and infectious diseases. Solid phase peptide synthesis has been the preferred approach for making pharmaceutically modified cyclotides so far, but promising progress is being made in biological approaches to cyclotide production.     

In vitro evaluation of cellular response induced by manufactured nanoparticles

"Nanoparticle" is defined as the particles whose diameter in at least one dimension is less than 100 nm. Compared with fine-particles, nanoparticles have large specific surface area. There is a dramatic increase over fine-particles in chemical and physical activities, such as ion release, adsorption ability, and ROS production. These properties are important for industrial use, and many nanoparticles are already used in products familiar to consumers as sunscreens and cosmetics. However, nanoparticle properties beneficial to the industry may also induce biological influences, including toxic activities. Recently, many investigations about the toxicology of nanoparticles have been reported. In the evaluation of nanoparticles toxicity, in vitro studies give us important information, especially in terms of toxic mechanisms. In vitro studies showed that some nanoparticles induce oxidative stress, apoptosis, production of cytokines, and cell death. There are reports that cellular influences of other nanoparticles are small. There are also reports of different results, some with low and some with high influences, for the same nanoparticle. One of the causes of this inconsistency might be a diremption of the living body influence study and the characterization study. Characterization of individual nanoparticles and their dispersions are essential for in vitro evaluation of their biological effects since each nanoparticle shows unique chemical and physical properties. Particularly, the aggregation state and metal ion release ability of nanoparticles affect its cellular influences. Reports concerning the characterization in the in vitro toxicity assessment are increasing. For an accurate risk assessment of nanoparticles, in this review, we outline recent studies of in vitro evaluation of cellular influences induced by nanoparticles. Moreover, we also introduce current studies about the characterization methods of nanoparticles and their dispersions for toxicological evaluation.     

Greener and sustainable approaches to the synthesis of pharmaceutically active heterocycles

Green chemistry is a rapidly developing field providing a proactive avenue for the sustainable development of future science and technology. Green chemistry can be applied to the design of highly efficient, environmentally benign synthetic protocols to deliver life-saving medicines, and to accelerate lead optimization processes in drug discovery, while minimizing environmental impact. It also offers enhanced chemical process economics, concomitant with a reduced environmental burden. This review summarizes relatively environmentally benign protocols for the synthesis of pharmaceutically active heterocycles that highlight the advantages of using green chemistry, for example, by proceeding under microwave irradiation or in aqueous reaction media.     

A new nano-cryosurgical modality for tumor treatment using biodegradable MgO nanoparticles

A new conceptual modality for nano-cryosurgical ablation of tumors is proposed in this article. The main strategy is to apply MgO nanoparticles (NPs), which are nontoxic, biodegradable, and have few side-effects on the human body, to mediate the freezing procedure effectively. Detailed investigation via animal experiments and nucleation analysis demonstrated that delivery of MgO NPs into the target tissues would significantly improve the cryosurgical outcome. The formation of an iceball during the freezing process is accelerated and enlarged due to the excellent thermal properties of MgO NPs. In addition this method could promote the generation of ice nuclei and thus enhance cryoinjury to the target cells. Therefore, combining the biodegradability and nontoxicity of MgO NPs with their relatively lightweight properties, excellent thermal properties would help develop a high-performance cryosurgery. These findings may lead to methods for safe and targeted nano-cryosurgery and possibly break through the barriers facing current clinical treatments of cancer.From the Clinical EditorCryosurgery is a promising evolving modality to address malignancies. The work presented in this paper may add a novel concept to the field of nanomedicine by demonstrating that MgO nanoparticles enable more efficient ice-ball formation and cryoinjury in the target tissue.     

Green and eco-compatible iron nanocatalysed synthesis of benzimidazole: A review

Benzimidazole moiety occupies a prominent position among all heterocyclic compounds along with N-containing heterocycles due to its widespread use in the medical field. In addition to medical uses, this bioactive heterocyclic moiety is also found in many important biological compounds, which are present in nature. Because of these diverse characteristics, chemists drew attention to the synthesis of benzimidazoles. As a result, benzimidazoles derivatives started being synthesized with the help of various chemical methods but these conventional processes were plagued with several drawbacks such as low atom economy, severe reaction conditions, long reaction times, by-product formation, non-recyclable catalysts, unsatisfactory product yield, hazardous solvents etc. So to overcome this problem, chemists are focusing their efforts on inventing synthetic approaches that are primarily based on the principles of green chemistry. We have focused in this review paper to systematically demonstrate several greener and more efficient approaches for the preparation of benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamine by using Iron-based nanocatalysts. Finally, this review will also help the researchers to develop more efficient and simpler routes for synthesizing benzimidazoles and their derivatives.     

Acute oral toxicity study of magnesium oxide nanoparticles and microparticles in female albino Wistar rats

Advancements in nanotechnology have led to the development of the nanomedicine, which involves nanodevices for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A key requirement for the successful use of the nanoparticles (NPs) in biomedical applications is their good dispensability, colloidal stability in biological media, internalization efficiency, and low toxicity. Therefore, toxicological profiling is necessary to understand the mechanism of NPs and microparticles (MPs). MgO NPs have attracted wide scientific interest due to ease of synthesis, chemical stability and unique properties. However, their toxic effects on humans should also be of concern with the increased applications of nano MgO. The present study was aimed to assess the toxicological potential of MgO NPs in comparison to their micron counterparts in female Wistar rats. Toxicity was evaluated using genotoxicity, histological, biochemical, antioxidant and biodistribution parameters post administration of MgO particles to rats through oral route. The results obtained from the investigation revealed that the acute exposure to the high doses of MgO NPs produced significant (p < 0.01) DNA damage and biochemical alterations. Antioxidant assays revealed prominent oxidative stress at the high dose level for both the particles. Toxicokinetic analysis showed significant levels of Mg accumulation in the liver and kidney tissues apart from urine and feces. Further, mechanistic investigational reports are warranted to document safe exposure levels and health implications post exposure to high levels of NPs.     

The impact of size on tissue distribution and elimination by single intravenous injection of silica nanoparticles

Many approaches for the application of nano-sized particles to the human body as nanotechnology have been recently developed. The size of nanoparticles is related to their useful character and also plays a key role in toxicity. Since this surface area can interact with biological components of cells, nanoparticles can be more reactive in than larger particles.     

The problems and pitfalls in systemic lupus erythematosus drug discovery

Combinatorial chemistry and parallel synthesis are important and regularly applied tools for lead identification and optimisation, although they are often accompanied by challenges related to the efficiency of library synthesis and the purity of the compound library. In the last decade, novel means of lead discovery approaches have been investigated where the biological target is actively involved in the synthesis of its own inhibitory compound. These fragment-based approaches, also termed target-guided synthesis (TGS), show great promise in lead discovery applications by combining the synthesis and screening of libraries of low molecular weight compounds in a single step. Of all the TGS methods, the kinetically controlled variant is the least well known, but it has the potential to emerge as a reliable lead discovery method. The kinetically controlled TGS approach, termed in situ click chemistry, is discussed in this article.