Here, the authors report a rapid, simple, and eco‐friendly process for synthesis of Bi ₂ O ₃ nano‐needles. Dioscorea alata tuber extract was used as both reducing and capping agent for the first time. These nanoparticles were characterised by X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, the nano‐structured Bi ₂ O ₃ needles have an average diameter of 158 nm with the lengths in the range of 1–3 μm. CLSI M27‐A2 standard was followed for evaluation of anti‐fungal activity. Bi ₂ O ₃ nano‐needles show remarkable activity against Candida albicans . It exhibits four time greater activity than bulk Bi ₂ O ₃ powder and two time greater activity than itraconazole, which makes it a potent anti‐fungal drug.

Metallic nanoparticles find tremendous applications in every field. The surface morphology of these metallic nanoparticles drives their properties and is usually regulated by their mode of synthesis. Apart from chemical and physical methods available for producing metallic nanoparticles, ‘plant-mediated synthesis’ is considered advantageous mainly because of its eco-friendly nature and cost-effectiveness. Plant-based materials have been successfully incorporated in food, pharmaceuticals as well as in tissue engineering applications. The secondary metabolites in plants are of prime importance as they play a major role as reducing agents. Therefore, numerous plants bearing diversified phytochemical profiles have been explored for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. The current review attempts to encompass available information about the synthesis and application of different metallic nanoparticles employing herbal extracts. Further, critical insights about the properties of metallic nanoparticles, their morphology, and anticipated applications (e.g. antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diabetic, photo-catalytic, etc) with a futuristic approach are discussed.

Surgery of the entire ear pinna even today presents a challenge to reconstructive surgeons, in the absence of a universally acceptable, quality construct for clinical use. In this article, the authors present a technique to generate a flexible, human size ear with the aim to meet this limitation for ear reconstructive surgeries. The construct was engineered by using a decellularized goat ear cartilage. This was characterized by hematoxylin–eosin (H/E), diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), Masson's trichrome (MT), Alcian Blue (AB) staining and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for extracellular matrix (ECM) analysis. The decellularization protocol followed yielded complete removal of all cellular components without changing the properties of the ECM. In vivo biocompatibility of the ear pinna showed demonstrable recellularization. Recellularization was tracked using HE, DAPI, MT, AB staining, toluidine staining, SEM, vascular-associated protein (VAP) and CD90⁺ expressing cells. VAP expression revealed specific vasculogenic pattern (angiogenesis). CD90⁺ expression reflected the presence of the stromal cell. The graft maintained the properties of ECM and displayed chondrocyte recruitment. In summary, the decellularized goat ear pinna (cartilage) exhibited xenograft biocompatibility, stable mechanical properties and in vivo chondrocyte recruitment. Subsequently developed tissue-engineered ear pinna offer potential for cartilage flexibility and individualization of ear shape and size for clinical application.

In this study, the synthesis of ultra‐fine grade antimony trioxide (Sb ₂ O ₃ ) using plant extract for the first time is reported. Antimony chloride was used as a starting material and Dioscorea alata tuber extract was used as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. XRD analysis indicates the formation of pure Sb ₂ O ₃ nanoparticles. The result from FE‐SEM and DLS showed that the particles have a cube‐like morphology and have an average size of 346.4 nm which falls within the range of ultra‐fine grade Sb ₂ O ₃ .