Biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles from dates, characterisation, and investigation of anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial properties

Abstract

Nanomaterial synthesis using natural biological systems, especially plant-based green synthesis, has displayed great excitement and interest. This study synthesised iron oxide nanomaterials from three different varieties of date palms obtained from Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, India. The extract of date palms reduced ferric chloride in the solution and facilitated the formation of iron oxide nanomaterials. Phytochemical studies of the extracts obtained from all three varieties of date palms indicated the presence of phenols. The synthesised nanomaterials were characterised by UV-VIS spectroscopy, SEM, EDAX, XRD and FTIR methods. The ability of the synthesised nanomaterials to inhibit human microbial pathogens proliferation was tested in Staphylococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. by turbidity method and recorded the maximum antimicrobial property against Bacillus sp. in the iron nanomaterial synthesised from Sukhri date palm. The cytotoxic potential of the iron oxide nanomaterials against two human cancer cell lines (A-549 and MDA-MB-231) by MTT assay. The iron oxide nanomaterials from Sukhri date palm detected a substantial cytotoxicity response.