Purpose: Bacterial infections are a significant concern for the current healthcare system. Nanotechnology is presented as a novel solution. Traditional synthesis methods for the production of nanoparticles are chemical and physical approaches that can be costly and potentially harmful to the environment due to the creation of toxic by-products and the use of harsh conditions. Therefore, there is a growing need for production of these nanoparticles via green and eco-friendly methods.
Methods: In the project, citric juices (orange, lemon, and lime) were used as reducing and capping agents for the biosynthesis of tellurium nanoparticles (OR-TeNPs, LE-TeNPs, LI-TeNPs) with a uniform size distribution and rod- and needle-shaped.
Results: The green-synthesized nanostructures showed significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative –Escherichia coli- and Gram-positive –Staphylococcus aureus- bacteria, in a range of concentrations from 5 to 50 μg/mL for 24 hours experiments. Nanoparticles were also tested for their cytocompatibility with human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells for 24 and 48 hours, showing no significant cytotoxic effect at concentrations up to 50 μg/mL. Moreover, nanostructures were cultured with melanoma cancer cells for 24 and 48 hours, exhibiting a cytotoxic effect and inhibiting the average growth of cells within the same range of concentrations.
Conclusion: •TeNPs were synthesized using orange, lemon and lime extracts in an easy, cost-effective and green method which overcomes the limitations of traditional synthesis of nanoparticles.
•TeNPs showed significant antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
•No significant cytotoxicity was found for Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF) cells over a period of 24 hours and 48 hours.
•Anticancer activity against melanoma cells was found in these nanoparticles over a period of 24 hours and 48 hours.
BOHAN ZHANG
– Graduate Student, Northeastern University, BostonBOHAN ZHANG
– Graduate Student, Northeastern University, BostonDavid Medina Cruz
– PhD Student, Northeastern University, BostonWilliam Tien-Street
– Northeastern UniversityXinjing Huang
– Northeastern UniversityAda Vernet
– Northeastern UniversityAmit K Roy
– Northeastern UniversityThomas Webster
– Professor, Northeastern UniversityBOHAN ZHANG
– Graduate Student, Northeastern University, Boston195 Views