Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) was produced using Ilex paraguariensis (mate) leaves extract using a green synthesis process. The influence of ethanolic and aqueous plant extract and zinc source on the green synthesis of ZnONPs was studied. Cyclic voltammetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used for the assessment of the mechanism route of ZnONPs while the formation of this nanomaterial was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The morphology and size of the ZnONPs synthesized were evaluated using field emission scanning microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. In general, all different synthesized ZnONPs exhibited a hexagonal crystalline structure whereas the size and shape varied depending on the extract and zinc salt used. Nonetheless, the most uniform and smallest ZnONPs were obtained using ethanolic extract and zinc nitrate, showing spherical morphology and a diameter of about 18 nm. With the use of cyclic voltammetry and FTIR analysis, it was concluded that the formation of ZnONPs through green synthesis occurred due to complexation of Zn(II) ions by antioxidants compounds present in the Ilex paraguariensis extract and further thermal degradation of the complexes. Concerning the cytotoxicity assays, the L929 cell viability decreases in a dose-dependent manner for all samples tested. In general, nanoparticles with reduced size and uniform shape exhibited no cytotoxic effects up to a concentration of 10 μ g mL−1. However, higher ZnONPs concentrations caused a decrease in cell viability. This was possibly due an autophagic induction process triggered by the internalization of the nanomaterial. Finally, this work provides a better understanding of the mechanism route to obtain ZnONPs via green method and their potential to be used as a biomedical material.

Mechanism of formation, characterization and cytotoxicity of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles obtained from Ilex paraguariensis leaves extract

The reaction of copper(II) trimethylacetate, [Cu(Piv)2]n (Piv = C(Me)3COO–), with caffeine (L) (Cu : L = 1 : 1) in anhydrous acetonitrile yielded the binuclear complex [Cu2(Piv)4(L)2] ⋅ 2CH3CN (I). The structure of the complex in the crystal was established by X-ray diffraction (CIF file CCDC no. 2 006 753), and the electronic structure was studied by ESR. The effect of caffeine coordination to the biogenic complexing agent was established: the in vitro biological activity of the obtained complex towards the non-pathogenic strain Mycolicibacterium smegmatis was eight times higher than that of free caffeine.

Copper(II) Trimethylacetate Complex with Caffeine: Synthesis, Structure, and Biological Activity

Synthesis and characterization of d10 transition metal complexes in bulk and nano scales: DNA binding, molecular docking and anticancer activity against MCF-7 cell line

Impact of the central atom on human genomic DNA and human serum albumin binding properties in analogous Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with mefenamic acid

Green synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, evaluation as in vitro cytotoxic and antibacterial agents of a new Zn(II) complex containing dipicolinic acid

Alena Yu. Skryabina

Papers

Zinc(II) and cadmium(II) halide complexes with caffeine: Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies