Over the past couple of decades, nanomaterials have advanced the research in materials; biomedical, biological, and chemical sciences; etc., owing to their peculiar properties at the nanoregime compared to their bulk composition. Applications of nanoparticles in the fields like medicine and agriculture have been boosted due to the development of different methodologies developed to synthesize specific shapes and sizes. Silver nanoparticles have tunable physical and chemical properties, so it has been studied widely to improve its applicability. The antimicrobial properties of Ag NPs are finding their application in enhancing the activity of drugs (like Amphotericin B, Nystatin, Fluconazole) and composite scaffolds for controlled release of drugs and targeted delivery of drugs due to their low toxicity and biocompatibility. Similarly, their surface plasmon resonance property makes Ag NPs a top-notch material for developing (bio)sensors, for instance, in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, for detecting biomarkers, diseases, pollutants, and higher catalytic activity in photochemical reactions. Besides these, highly conducting Ag NPs are used in wearable and flexible sensors to generate electrocardiographs. Physicochemical or biological approaches are used to prepare Ag NPs; however, each method has its pros and cons. The prohibitive cost and use of hazardous chemicals hinder the application of physicochemical synthesis. Likewise, biological synthesis is not always reproducible for extensive use but can be a suitable candidate for therapeutic activities like cancer therapy. Excess use of Ag NPs is cytotoxic, and their unregulated discharge in the environment may have effects on both aquatic and terrestrial biota. The research in Ag NPs has always been driven by the need to develop a technology with potential benefits and minimal risk to environmental and human health. In this review, we have attempted to provide an insight into the application of Ag NPs in various sectors along with the recent synthetic and characterization techniques used for Ag NPs.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have piqued the curiosity of researchers all over the world due to their extensive biological activity. They are less toxic and biodegradable with the capacity to greatly boost pharmacophore bioactivity. ZnO-NPs are the most extensively used metal oxide nanoparticles in electronic and optoelectronics because of their distinctive optical and chemical properties which can be readily modified by altering the morphology and the wide bandgap. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles using extracts of therapeutic plants, fungi, bacteria, algae, etc., improves their stability and biocompatibility in many biological settings, and its biofabrication alters its physiochemical behavior, contributing to biological potency. As such, ZnO-NPs can be used as an effective nanocarrier for conventional drugs due to their cost-effectiveness and benefits of being biodegradable and biocompatible. This article covers a comprehensive review of different synthesis approaches of ZnO-NPs including physical, chemical, biochemical, and green synthesis techniques, and also emphasizes their biopotency through antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiviral, wound healing, and cardioprotective activity. Green synthesis from plants, bacteria, and fungus is given special attention, with a particular emphasis on extraction techniques, precursors used for the synthesis and reaction conditions, characterization techniques, and surface morphology of the particles.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are versatile and promising, with diverse applications in environmental remediation, nanomedicine, cancer treatment, and drug delivery. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized utilizing extracts derived from Acacia catechu, Artemisia vulgaris, and Cynodon dactylon. The synthesized ZnO NPs showed an Ultraviolet–visible spectrum at 370 nm, and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the hexagonal wurtzite framework with the average crystallite size of 15.07 nm, 16.98 nm, and 18.97 nm for nanoparticles synthesized utilizing A. catechu, A. vulgaris, and C. dactylon respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated spherical surface morphology with average diameters of 18.5 nm, 17.82 nm, and 17.83 nm for ZnO NPs prepared from A. catechu, A. vulgaris, and C. dactylon, respectively. Furthermore, ZnO NPs tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Kocuria rhizophila, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Shigella sonnei demonstrated a zone of inhibition of 8 to 14 mm. The cell viability and cytotoxicity effects of ZnO NPs were studied on NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells treated with different concentrations (5 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, and 50 μg/mL). The results showed biocompatibility of all samples, except with higher doses causing cell death. In conclusion, the ZnO NPs synthesized through plant-mediated technique showed promise for potential utilization in various biomedical applications in the future.

The nanomaterial industry has focused on green synthetic methods to avoid unpleasant compounds produced during manufacturing, offering eco‐friendly, sustainable, and nature‐derived alternative methods. In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been synthesized from an aqueous extract of the leaves of Rhododendron arboreum, where the pH of the reaction mixture is found to be crucial. The reaction progress monitored using the UV‐Vis spectrophotometer displayed a strong absorption band at 425 nm at pH 9, suggesting an optimum pH for the synthesis. The Ag NPs thus synthesized were characterized using instrumental techniques. The attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy showed the presence of phytoconstituents in the aqueous extract, which are believed to be responsible for reducing Ag⁺ ions to Ag NPs and capping agents on its surface for stability. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) showed a highly crystalline nature, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) demonstrated the presence of metallic silver. The scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively) revealed crystalline morphology and monodisperse Ag NPs of sizes ranging from 23 to 41 nm. Furthermore, the metal‐sensing activity of biosynthesized Ag NPs was evaluated using various metal ions; they were utilized for highly selective and sensitive colorimetric detection of Hg²⁺ in an aqueous medium among various metal ion solutions tested with the detection limit of 0.5 mM using the UV‐Vis spectrophotometer. Similarly, they were also shown to be effective for the nanocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue dye up to 81%. These studies demonstrated Ag NPs as potential candidates for selective detection of mercury in water resources, a tool for sensing the heavy metals and degradation of synthetic dye from industrial effluents in wastewater treatment. Having the high surface‐to‐volume ratio and size‐dependent functionality of Ag NPs, further optimization studies at micromolar and nanomolar detection limits will avail its better industrial utilization. Moreover, biologically mediated Ag NPs can also exhibit good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Fluorescence is a remarkable property exhibited by many chemical compounds and biomolecules. Fluorescence has revolutionized analytical and biomedical sciences due to its wide-ranging applications in analytical and diagnostic tools of biological and environmental importance. Fluorescent molecules are frequently employed in drug delivery, optical sensing, cellular imaging, and biomarker discovery. Cancer is a global challenge and fluorescence agents can function as diagnostic as well as monitoring tools, both during early tumor progression and treatment monitoring. Many fluorescent compounds can be found in their natural form, but recent developments in synthetic chemistry and molecular biology have allowed us to synthesize and tune fluorescent molecules that would not otherwise exist in nature. Naturally derived fluorescent compounds are generally more biocompatible and environmentally friendly. They can also be modified in cost-effective and target-specific ways with the help of synthetic tools. Understanding their unique chemical structures and photophysical properties is key to harnessing their full potential in biomedical and analytical research. As drug discovery efforts require the rigorous characterization of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, fluorescence-based detection accelerates the understanding of drug interactions via in vitro and in vivo assays. Herein, we provide a review of natural products and synthetic analogs that exhibit fluorescence properties and can be used as probes, detailing their photophysical properties. We have also provided some insights into the relationships between chemical structures and fluorescent properties. Finally, we have discussed the applications of fluorescent compounds in biomedical science, mainly in the study of tumor and cancer cells and analytical research, highlighting their pivotal role in advancing drug delivery, biomarkers, cell imaging, biosensing technologies, and as targeting ligands in the diagnosis of tumors.

Lately, the upsurge in the liberation of synthetic dyes into the environment, primarily by the textile industries, is a threat to the natural habitat and existing ecosystem. Various methods such as adsorption and degradation with nanoparticles are currently being used to degrade those hazardous materials, but still, the yearning for novel methods continues. In this study, hydrothermal reactions were performed at 160°C to synthesize manganese dioxide nanostructures (MnNSs) under different incubation periods that facilitated the comparison of the size, morphology, and crystallinity of MnNSs. The study revealed the change in crystallinity over the incubation period; MnNSs prepared at 24 hrs were highly crystalline among others. Additionally, the size and morphology of MnNSs changed from the sea‐urchin or flower‐like structure, predominantly sheet/layer form, to nanorods as the reaction proceeded for 24 hrs. Characterization of MnNSs was followed by heterogeneous Fenton’s reaction, using α‐manganese dioxide nanostructures, for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). To further understand the catalytic activity of MnNSs, the synthesized nanostructures were subjected to degrade MB at varied time intervals, both with and without hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Catalytically, MnNSs evinced good potential for degrading MB dye in the presence of H₂O₂; MnNSs prepared at 24 hrs degraded MB up to 73% within 110 minutes.