Facile Green Synthesis of Cinnamomum tamala Extract Capped Silver Nanoparticles and its Biological Applications

The plant mediated biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles is of magnificent concern due to its eco-benign and single pot nature. Here, Cinnamomum tamala (C. tamala) aqueous leaf extract was utilised for the silver nanoparticles’ (Ag NPs) synthesis. The phytoconstituents in the leaf extract were analysed by standard methods. These metabolites, especially carbohydrate polymers reduce Ag ions to Ag NPs accompanied by a reddish-brown coloration of the reaction mixture. The visual observation of intense brown colour is the first indication of the formation of Ag NPs. Various spectro-analytical techniques further characterise the Ag NPs. The green synthesised spherical Ag NPs were crystalline with an average size of 38 nm. The Ag NPs were scrutinised for antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity and obtained good results. The free radical scavenging was studied by 2, 2-Diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The antibacterial activity of Ag NPs was assessed against human pathogens, and it shown to have good antibacterial potency against a wide spectrum of bacteria. The cytotoxic activity against HEK-293T (human embryonic kidney) cell line was evaluated by 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) assay. These potent biological activities enable C. tamala capped Ag NPs to be suitable candidates for the future applications in various fields, predominantly clinical and biomedical

Pineapple fruit residue-based nanofibre composites: Preparation and characterizations

Natural fibre composites are widespread for being eco-friendly and having unique properties. This study prepared nanocomposites by water evaporation using cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) as fillers and natural rubber (NR) latex as the matrix. Here, CNFs were extracted from the “pineapple fruit residue,” a waste material in juice industries. These fibre-reinforced nanocomposites were prepared under three different weight/volume percentages (5%, 10%, and 15%) and analysed for their mechanical and thermal properties. Furthermore, the morphology and distribution of CNFs in the NR matrix were examined by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) analysis. The study found that CNFs were randomly oriented and evenly distributed in the nanocomposite. CNFs were detected by FT-IR spectroscopy in the NR matrix, as indicated by absorption peaks at 1,033 and 1,057 cm−1. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals increased thermal stability with more CNFs. Tensile strength and elastic modulus also increase. Pineapple fruit residue-based CNFs enhance mechanical and thermal properties of NR composites and can be considered an ideal natural reinforcing material