Synthesis and characterization of Phytofabricated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Pharmacological and Environmental Applications

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19310975

Abstract

A significant challenge has recently emerged in the field of nanotechnology and nanoscience, prompting the development of greener synthesis approaches. Among these, the production of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant extracts has gained considerable attention due to its advantages over conventional chemical and physicochemical methods. In the present study, A. nilotica-mediated zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized through an eco-friendly and cost-effective green synthesis approach. The synthesized nanoparticles were comprehensively characterized using several spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, including UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. XRD and DLS results confirmed the hexagonal nanocrystalline structure of the ZnO nanoparticles. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of multiple functional groups associated with phytochemicals involved in nanoparticle stabilization. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed the optical properties of the ZnO nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited an average size of 68.3 nm with a band gap energy of 2.71 eV. SEM images revealed that the ZnO nanoparticles possessed a clover-leaf morphology, while EDX spectra verified the elemental composition, confirming the presence of zinc and oxygen. The biosynthesized nanoparticles demonstrated promising biomedical activities. The highest antileishmanial activity recorded was 68%, anti-inflammatory activity reached 78%, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was 79.1%, antibacterial activity showed a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 22.1 mm, and a maximum growth inhibition of 85 ± 2.1% was observed against A. rabiei. In addition to biomedical applications, the environmental potential of the nanoparticles was evaluated for cadmium removal, achieving an adsorption efficiency of 85.3% within 120 minutes. Overall, the bio-inspired ZnO nanoparticles exhibited significant biomedical and environmental potential. These findings suggest that such green-synthesized nanoparticles warrant further investigation to enhance their applicability and scalability for practical applications.