Green Synthesis of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Principles of Green Chemistry and Raw Materials

Increased request for metal and metal oxide nanoparticles nanoparticles has led to their large-scale production using high-energy methods with various toxic solvents. This cause environmental contamination, thus eco-friendly green synthesis methods has become necessary. An alternative way to synthesize metal nanoparticles includes using bioresources, such as plants and plant products, bacteria, fungi, yeast, algae, etc. Green synthesis has low toxicity, is safe for human health and environment compared to other methods, meaning it is the best approach for obtaining metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. This review reveals 12 principles of green chemistry and examples of biological components suitable for green synthesis, as well as modern scientific research of eco-friendly synthesis methods of magnetic and metal nanoparticles. Particularly, using extracts of green tea, fruits, roots, leaves, etc., to obtain Fe3O4 NPs. The various precursors as egg white (albumen), leaf and fruit extracts, etc., can be used for the green synthesis of spinel magnetic NPs. Green nanoparticles are being widely used as antimicrobials, photocatalysts and adsorbents. Green magnetic nanoparticles demonstrate low toxicity and high biocompatibility, which allows for their biomedical application, especially for targeted drug delivery, contrast imaging and magnetic hyperthermia applications. The synthesis of silver, gold, platinum and palladium nanoparticles using extracts from fungi, red algae, fruits, etc., has been described.

Automated summary

The increased demand for metal and metal oxide nanoparticles has led to large-scale production using high-energy methods with toxic solvents, causing environmental pollution. Green synthesis methods, utilizing bioresources to synthesize metal nanoparticles, have low toxicity, are safe for human health and the environment, and are the best approach for obtaining metal and metal oxide nanoparticles.