Green Synthesis of Plant-Based Nanoparticles: Recent Advances, Biomedical Applications and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts has emerged as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical and physical nanoparticle fabrication. In this approach, phytochemicals present in various plant parts (e.g., leaves, fruits, roots) act as natural reducing and stabilizing agents, enabling the formation of diverse metal and metal oxide nanoparticles under mild conditions. This review highlights recent advances in plant-based green synthesis of nanoparticles, with a focus on their biomedical applications and future prospects. Notably, plant-mediated synthesis produces nanoparticles that are biocompatible and less toxic, making them attractive for nanomedicine and therapeutic use. In the past five years, research in this field has intensified, with silver nanoparticles being the most extensively studied, followed by gold, zinc oxide, copper oxide, and others. We discuss how these green-synthesized nanoparticles have demonstrated potent antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic) properties, anti-cancer effects (e.g., inducing apoptosis in tumor cells), and capabilities in drug delivery and bioimaging. Key examples include silver nanoparticles showing broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity, gold nanoparticles for anti-biofilm and cancer therapy, and metal oxide nanoparticles (ZnO, CuO, etc.) for their therapeutic and diagnostic potential. While significant progress has been made in understanding and applying plant-based nanoparticles, challenges such as scalability, reproducibility, and thorough toxicity evaluation remain. Future research directions are proposed to address these challenges, improve green synthesis methods (including leveraging machine learning and bioprocess optimization), and fully realize the biomedical potential of plant-derived nanoparticles in a safe and sustainable manner.