Sustainable and eco-friendly synthesis methods for nanoparticles are crucial for advancing green nanotechnology. This study presents the biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles using ovalbumin, an abundant and non-toxic protein from egg white. The synthesis process was optimized by varying metal ion concentrations to control particle size and morphology. Characterization using ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM, and UV-VIS confirmed the successful formation of uniform, well-crystallized nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 7.9 to 13.5 nm. ZnO nanoparticles exhibited superior antimicrobial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, while MgO nanoparticles showed enhanced potential environmental remediation. These findings highlight ovalbumin as a versatile agent for the green synthesis of ZnO and MgO nanomaterials, with promising applications in the medical, environmental, and optoelectronic fields. The results indicate that this biogenic method can serve as a sustainable proposal to produce nanostructured materials with diverse applications in the medical and environmental fields, such as eliminating pathogenic bacteria and purifying contaminated environments. Overall, this study significantly contributes to the development of sustainable nanomaterials and opens up new perspectives on the use of ovalbumin protein in the synthesis of multifunctional nanostructured materials.

The production and extensive use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various fields necessitate thorough testing, not only in terms of their potential applications but also regarding the effects they induce on various organisms. In addition, nanoparticles generated from various anthropogenic activities, which reach or are formed in the atmosphere, have a significant impact on the health of humans and other living organisms. Recent research indicates that the effects produced by these nanoparticles are dependent on their size and applied dose. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the physiological, biochemical and cytogenotoxic effects induced by different doses of AgNPs compared to positive and negative controls in Triticum aestivum L. and Allium cepa L. A significant stimulatory effect of the treatment performed with the solution of AgNPs with a size of 20 nm, at the lowest concentration (0.02 µg mL⁻¹), in the two tested species, was obtained. The growth and weight of the seedling were significantly increased, and the mitotic index was also elevated. Additionally, this treatment variant showed the lowest percentage of chromosomal aberrations. No significant differences were observed in cell viability, total polyphenol content, proline levels, or assimilatory pigment concentrations compared to the control. Our findings show that AgNPs may exert stimulatory effects, whether significant or not, on certain physiological and biochemical parameters. However, they also interfere with cell cycle regulation and genomic stability, raising concerns regarding their environmental and biological safety. The Allium test proved to be an effective method for detecting nanoparticle-induced genotoxicity and can be recommended as a preliminary screening assay in nanoparticle safety evaluations.

This study was conducted to capitalize on the waste produced by the vinification process which proved to be important sources of bioactive compounds with significant antifungal properties. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ grape pomace extracts were characterized in terms of total polyphenol content, antioxidant potential, but also evaluated in terms of antifungal effect against phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium sp. and Alternaria sp.). The isolates used in this study were grown on three potato-dextrose-agar culture media, Czapek Dox and Malt-Agar. The highest amount of polyphenols was determined from the extract obtained by the microwave-assisted method (42.76 mg/g GAE), followed by the extract obtained by maceration (30.37 mg/g GAE). The lowest amount was obtained by the ultrasound-assisted method (15.06 mg/g GAE). However, the highest antioxidant activity was determined in the macerated extract, TEAC = 0.0523. The results of in vitro tests clearly indicated a high inhibitory percentage on the mycelium growth rate and, respectively, a significant decrease in spore germination power in Fusarium sp. (91.56%). However, for the pathogen Alternaria sp. further studies are needed to correctly validate the percentage of inhibition, as alcohol has been shown to have a negative effect on it.

In this study, we report a bottom-up approach for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis using aqueous decoction of aerial parts of Clematis vitalba L. The phytosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Bright Field Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (BFSTEM). The cytogenotoxicity and phytotoxicity assays of AgNPs were assessed by using Allium test, Evans blue and 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, root and stem growth potential, and biomass evaluation. The results revealed that AgNPs were in the size range of 1-15 nm and spherical shape. The biosynthesized AgNPs augment the mitodepressive effect, disruption of cellular metabolism, impairment of root and stem growth, and biomass reduction induced by C. vitalba aqueous extracts. These results outline the toxicological profile of the C. vitalba extracts, as well as of the phytogenerated AgNPs and provides scientific perspectives on the use of C. vitalba extracts as reducing and stabilizing agent for the phytosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles.

Investigating the toxicity of naturally occurring or synthesized nanoparticles for various applications is absolutely necessary for environmental protection and safety use. The aim of these research was to investigated the phytotoxicity, cytogenotoxicity and antibacterial potential of the extracts with gold-silver bimetallic nanoparticles (Au-Ag NPs) obtained from green synthesis in Asplenium scolopendrium L. and Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott spores extracts. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the Au-Ag NPs phytosynthesis based on extracts obtained from fern spores. UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis of the samples revealed the maximum absorbance, characteristic of samples with bimetallic nanoparticles, which varied depending on the Au:Ag ratio. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence and distribution of Au, Ag and other chemical elements. The presence of specific secondary metabolites in the extracts that helped in NPs biosynthesis stimulated growth processes. Good results were recorded for some Dryopteris filix-mas samples, correlated with a significantly increased mitotic index. Cell viability decreased significantly in three of the nanoformulations. Only extracts with Au-Ag NPs showed antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Escherichia coli ATCC 8739. The testing of the antibacterial potential of these extracts must be extended to other bacterial strains and other microorganisms, the search of new antimicrobial resources being an urgent necessity nowadays.