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Nanomaterials
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Innovative and Eco-Friendly Nanomaterials
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Innovative and Eco-Friendly Nanomaterials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 20247

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Giuliana Taglieri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Technology of Materials and Applied Chemistry，Piazzale E. Pontieri 1, Monteluco di Roio, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
Interests: Nanoparticles synthesis, alkaline earth metal oxides/hydroxides nanostructures, metal oxides/hydroxides nanostructures, nanolime, carbonatation, innovative stone consolidation treatments, colloidal nanoparticles, structural and morphological characterization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, words like “green”, “eco-friendly”, “energy consumption”, and “sustainability” represent the crucial hints at the base of a responsible growth of our society, particularly when associated with technologic innovation regarding use or production of new materials.

In this regard, the field of nanotechnology is one of the most active areas of research in modern material science. Nanotechnological products and their applications are expected to contribute significantly to environmental protection, by saving raw materials and energy as well as by reducing greenhouse gases and hazardous wastes. In addition, nanomaterials exhibit special physical and chemical properties that make them interesting for novel, environmentally friendly products in several application fields, from industrial to civil engineering, as well as in biomedical and in cultural heritage fields. However, environmental and human risk assessment associated with the use of nanomaterials is still a matter of debate, and in most commercially available nanoproducts, environmental protection is not the primary goal. In addition, the synthesis procedures of nanomaterials are frequently characterized by the generation of toxic byproducts or by the necessity of high temperatures or high pressures, which will inevitably lead to severe energy consumption, particularly when the scalability of the production becomes necessary.

This Special Issue will include research into the design, characterization, production, and applications of nanoscale materials by focusing a special attention on all the aspects relating to the respect for human health and environmental safety. The most recent research concerning these worthwhile questions will be welcome in this Special Issue of Nanomaterials.

Prof. Dr. Giuliana Taglieri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Nanomaterials
  • Eco-friendly nanomaterials
  • Eco-friendly nanoparticles
  • Sustainable and scalable nanomaterials synthesis
  • Eco-friendly nanomaterials synthesis
  • Nanomaterials for eco-friendly applications
  • Green synthesis
  • Green chemistry
  • Nanomaterials toxicity
  • Environmental impact
  • Nanobioremediation
  • Health and safety issues

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 5594 KiB  
Article
Plumeria alba-Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Exhibits Antimicrobial Effect and Anti-Oncogenic Activity against Glioblastoma U118 MG Cancer Cell Line
by Muthuraj Rudrappa, Hassan Ahmed Rudayni, Rasha Assad Assiri, Asmatanzeem Bepari, Dhanyakumara Shivapoojar Basavarajappa, Shashiraj Kariyellappa Nagaraja, Bidhayak Chakraborty, Pallavi Sathyanarayana Swamy, Shekappa Ningappa Agadi, Shaik Kalimulla Niazi and Sreenivasa Nayaka
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030493 - 30 Jan 2022
Cited by 60 | Viewed by 6088
Abstract
Plumeria alba (P. alba) is a small laticiferous tree with promising medicinal properties. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and non-hazardous compared to chemical and physical synthesis methods. Current research aiming to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the leaf extract [...] Read more.
Plumeria alba (P. alba) is a small laticiferous tree with promising medicinal properties. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and non-hazardous compared to chemical and physical synthesis methods. Current research aiming to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the leaf extract of P. alba (P- AgNPs) has described its physiochemical and pharmacological properties in recognition of its therapeutic potential as an anticancer and antimicrobial agent. These biogenic synthesized P-AgNPs were physiochemically characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and zeta potential analysis. Antimicrobial activity was investigated against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata. Anticancer activity against glioblastoma U118 MG cancer lines was investigated using an MTT assay, and apoptosis activity was determined by flow cytometry. UV–visible spectroscopic analysis portrayed surface plasmon resonance at 403 nm of synthesized P-AgNPs, and FTIR suggested the presence of amines, alkanes, and phenol molecules that could be involved in reduction and capping processes during AgNPs formation. Synthesized particles were spherical in shape and poly-dispersed with an average particle size of 26.43 nm and a poly-dispersity index (PDI) of 0.25 with a zeta potential value of −24.6 mV, ensuring their stability. The lattice plane values confirm the crystalline nature as identified by XRD. These P-AgNPs exhibited potential antimicrobial activity against selected human pathogenic microbes. Additionally, the in vitro MTT assay results showed its effective anticancer activity against the glioma U118 MG cancer cell line with an IC50 value of 9.77 µg/mL AgNPs by initiating apoptosis as identified by a staining study with flow cytometric Annexin V–Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC) and Propidium Iodide (PI). Thus, P. alba AgNPs can be recommended for further pharmacological and other biological research. To conclude, the current investigation developed an eco-friendly AgNPs synthesis using P. alba leaf extract with potential cytotoxic and antibacterial capacity, which can therefore be recommended as a new strategy to treat different human diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative and Eco-Friendly Nanomaterials)
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14 pages, 3535 KiB  
Article
Biogenic Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Enterococcus faecalis: Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium from Aqueous Solution and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Analysis
by Melvin S. Samuel, Saptashwa Datta, Narendhar Chandrasekar, Ramachandran Balaji, Ethiraj Selvarajan and Srikanth Vuppala
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(12), 3290; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11123290 - 3 Dec 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2990
Abstract
The biological synthesis of nanoparticles is emerging as a potential method for nanoparticle synthesis due to its non-toxicity and simplicity. In the present study, a bacterium resistant to heavy metals was isolated from a metal-contaminated site and we aimed to report the synthesis [...] Read more.
The biological synthesis of nanoparticles is emerging as a potential method for nanoparticle synthesis due to its non-toxicity and simplicity. In the present study, a bacterium resistant to heavy metals was isolated from a metal-contaminated site and we aimed to report the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles via co-precipitation using bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) derived from Enterococcus faecalis_RMSN6 strains. A three-variable Box–Behnken design was used for determining the optimal conditions of the Fe3O4 NPs synthesis process. The synthesized Fe3O4 NPs were thoroughly characterized through multiple analytical techniques such as XRD, UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and finally SEM analysis to understand the surface morphology. Fe3O4 NPs were then probed for the Cr(VI) ion adsorption studies. The important parameters such as optimization of initial concentration of Cr(VI) ions, effects of contact time, pH of the solution and contact time on quantity of Cr(VI) adsorbed were studied in detail. The maximum adsorption capacity of the nanoparticles was found to be 98.03 mg/g. The nanoparticles could retain up to 73% of their efficiency of chromium removal for up to 5 cycles. Additionally, prepared Fe3O4 NPs in the concentration were subjected to cytotoxicity studies using an MTT assay. The investigations using Fe3O4 NPs displayed a substantial dose-dependent effect on the A594 cells. The research elucidates that the Fe3O4 NPs synthesized from EPS of E. faecalis_RMSN6 can be used for the removal of heavy metal contaminants from wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative and Eco-Friendly Nanomaterials)
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16 pages, 2745 KiB  
Article
Development of a Strategy for Enhancing the Biomass Growth and Lipid Accumulation of Chlorella sp. UJ-3 Using Magnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles
by Feng Wang, Tingting Liu, Wen Guan, Ling Xu, Shuhao Huo, Anzou Ma, Guoqiang Zhuang and Norman Terry
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2802; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112802 - 22 Oct 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2195
Abstract
In this study, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were used as an effective enhancer to increase the biomass and total lipid production of Chlorella sp. UJ-3. It was found that the biomass of algal cells increased significantly when they were exposed [...] Read more.
In this study, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were used as an effective enhancer to increase the biomass and total lipid production of Chlorella sp. UJ-3. It was found that the biomass of algal cells increased significantly when they were exposed to low concentrations of Fe3O4 NPs (20 mg/L), while the best total lipid content of algal cells was achieved when they were exposed to high concentrations of Fe3O4 NPs (100 mg/L). Therefore, we established a strategy to promote the growth and lipid accumulation of microalgae by initially exposing the algal cells to low concentrations of Fe3O4 NPs and then treating them with an increased concentration of Fe3O4 NPs after 12 days of culture. For this strategy, the biomass and total lipid production of algal cells increased by 50% and 108.7%, respectively, compared to the untreated control. The increase in lipid production and change in the fatty acid composition of Chlorella cells were found to help them to cope with the increased number of reactive oxygen species produced due to oxidative stress in alga cells after the addition of Fe3O4 NPs. This study provided a highly efficient way to improve the lipid production of microalgae using nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative and Eco-Friendly Nanomaterials)
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14 pages, 4688 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Loaded on Biochar Derived from Spartina alterniflora with Superior Photocatalytic Degradation Performance
by Hua Jing, Lili Ji, Zhen Wang, Jian Guo, Shiyao Lu, Jiaxing Sun, Lu Cai and Yaning Wang
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2479; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102479 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3566
Abstract
Spartina alterniflora is an invasive plant from coastal wetlands, and its use in applications has garnered much interest. In this study, a composite photocatalyst (ZnO@BC) was synthesized by preparing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with S. alterniflora extracts, S. alterniflora, and one-step carbonization, [...] Read more.
Spartina alterniflora is an invasive plant from coastal wetlands, and its use in applications has garnered much interest. In this study, a composite photocatalyst (ZnO@BC) was synthesized by preparing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with S. alterniflora extracts, S. alterniflora, and one-step carbonization, which was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL) and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm. The degradation capacity and mechanism of malachite green (MG) using ZnO@BC were analyzed under visible irradiation, and the degradation products of malachite green were detected by LC–MS. The results show that ZnO@BC has a larger surface area (83.2 m2/g) and various reactive groups, which enhance its photocatalytic efficiency, with the presence of oxygen vacancy further improving the photocatalytic activity. The total removal rate of malachite green (400 mg/L) using ZnO@BC is up to 98.38%. From the LC–MS analysis, it could be concluded that malachite green is degraded by demethylation, deamination, conjugate structure and benzene ring structure destruction. This study provides a novel idea for the high-value utilization of S. alterniflora. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative and Eco-Friendly Nanomaterials)
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16 pages, 3595 KiB  
Article
Contribution of Nano-Zero-Valent Iron and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil
by Peng Cheng, Shuqi Zhang, Quanlong Wang, Xueying Feng, Shuwu Zhang, Yuhuan Sun and Fayuan Wang
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1264; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051264 (registering DOI) - 11 May 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3501
Abstract
Soil pollution with heavy metals has attracted increasing concern, which calls for the development of new remediation strategies. The combination of physical, chemical, and biological techniques can achieve more efficient remediation. However, few studies have focused on whether nanomaterials and beneficial microbes can [...] Read more.
Soil pollution with heavy metals has attracted increasing concern, which calls for the development of new remediation strategies. The combination of physical, chemical, and biological techniques can achieve more efficient remediation. However, few studies have focused on whether nanomaterials and beneficial microbes can be jointly used to facilitate phytoremediation. Therefore, we studied the role of nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the phytoremediation of an acidic soil polluted with Cd, Pb and Zn, using sweet sorghum. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and mapping analyses were conducted to explore the mechanisms of metal immobilization by nZVI. The results showed that although both bare nZVI (B-nZVI) and starch-stabilized nZVI (S-nZVI) inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization, Acaulospora mellea ZZ successfully colonized the plant roots. AM inoculation significantly reduced the concentrations of DTPA-Cd, -Pb, and -Zn in soil, and the concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in plants, indicating that AM fungi substantially facilitated heavy metal immobilization. Both B-nZVI and S-nZVI, ranging from 50 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg, did not impede plant growth, and generally enhanced the phytoextraction of heavy metals. XRD, EDS and mapping analyses showed that S-nZVI was more susceptible to oxidation than B-nZVI, and thus had more effective immobilization effects on heavy metals. Low concentrations of nZVI (e.g., 100 mg/kg) and AM inoculation had synergistic effects on heavy metal immobilization, reducing the concentrations of Pb and Cd in roots and enhancing root Zn accumulation. In conclusion, our results showed that AM inoculation was effective in immobilizing heavy metals, whereas nZVI had a low phytotoxicity, and they could jointly contribute to the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils with sweet sorghum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative and Eco-Friendly Nanomaterials)
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