Green synthesis of Ag0, Fe0, Zn0, Ag2O, Fe2O3, ZnO Nanoparticles using Okra seed extract and their composites with polystyrene for food packaging and medicinal applications

Abstract

Environmentally benign and cost-efficient plant mediated synthesis were used to fabricate Ag0, Fe0, Zn0, Ag2O, Fe2O3, ZnO Nanoparticles and their composites with polystyrene for food packaging and medicinal applications. Nanomaterials were successfully synthesized and confirm by using UV/Vis, XRD, and SEMEDX techniques. All prepared materials exhibited excellent antioxidant potential and promising results DPPH free radical scavenging activity and phosphomolybdenum assay, among al results of Silver Nanoparticles were prominent. Antibacterial activity was tested against 4 different bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli, 2 of them were gram positive and two were gram negative. All materials exhibited excellent results, among all Zinc nanoparticles showed best results. Anti-inflammatory activity was tested using three assays, egg albumin, bovine serum albumin and erythrocytes hemolysis. Iron nanoparticles showed highest inhibition activity in Bovine serum assay while results of other materials were promising as well, in egg albumin assay the activity of Ag2O was highest while all other materials showed excellent results as well. In blood homolytic assay all materials showed promising results, activity of Fe2O3 was best among all. Food packaging potential was tested against Lemon and Apple slices by packing them in Metal-Polystyrene and Pure polystyrene, Metal polystyrene composites successfully stopped the degradation and oxidation of these food materials as it possesses antibacterial and antioxidizing properties and has great potential in food packaging materials as well as medicine.