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There are several physical and chemical methods for synthesizing nanomaterials, while the most appropriate techniques involve using green chemistry and eco-friendly material. Recently, green synthesized materials for different applications have gained attention as a result of their environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. Applying green synthesized nanoparticles (NPS) in food packaging has been extensively investigated. Biopolymers require filler to enhance the optical, barrier, thermal, antimicrobial, and mechanical properties of packaging. Biopolymer packaging incorporated with green synthesized NPs is expected to simultaneously enhance performance while reducing environmental damage. The current review article focuses on biopolymer films with bio (green)-synthesized nanomaterials and their effectiveness in reducing the negative environmental implications of synthetic packaging. It also covers the general concepts of green synthesis of NPs, their production methods, their performance, and characterization, and discusses the potential, performance and recent developments of bio-nanocomposite films/coatings in biodegradable food packaging. Recent reports and trends provide more insight into the impact of green synthesized nanomaterials on food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional nanoplatforms based on mesoporous silica coated with alumina were successfully and sustainably synthesized using sodium silicate extracted from rice husk ash (RHA), demonstrating the potential for cancer theranostics. The hybrid nanostructures produced (C2-600 and C4-600) from two different calcination times exhibited distinct morphologies, textural parameters, and degrees of mesoscopic organization. As expected, the Al 2 O 3 coating on the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) reduced the specific surface area from 720 m2/g to 122 m2/g (C2-600) and 57 m2/g (C4-600), while preserving their mesoporous structure. Additionally, both C2-600 and C4-600 showed relatively good stability across a wide pH interval, with a zeta potential of ζ = −15 mV and hydrodynamic diameter (D h) ranging from 160 to 670 nm, depending on the pH of the medium. These peculiar characteristics resulted in high encapsulation efficiency (EE ≈ 90 %) for the doxorubicin (DOX) anticancer drug, as well as sustained drug release in simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.4). Appreciably, C4-600-DOX released approximately 83 % of the drug over 96 h and demonstrated significant biodegradation in simulated biological media. Furthermore, the hybrid nanoplatforms exhibited strong optical absorption between 250 and 420 nm, along with broad and intense photoluminescence (PL) in the near-infrared (NIR) region (680–900 nm), which is highly desirable for NIR-fluorescence diagnostic imaging. Notably, the hybrid nanoplatforms without DOX were non-cytotoxic to fibroblast and Caco-2 cells, while the DOX-loaded nanoplatforms exhibited selectivity and potent anticancer activity, inhibiting approximately 80 % of Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells after 72 h. These findings demonstrate that C2-600 and C4-600 are innovative, multifunctional and biodegradable nanoplatforms with powerful potential as drug carriers and fluorescence imaging agents, making them promising candidates for cancer theranostics. [Display omitted] • Hybrid nanoplatforms based on mesoporous silica from RHA coated by Al 2 O 3 were synthesized for biomedical applications. • C2-600 and C4-600 exhibit different structural characteristics and both present PL emission in the Vis-NIR region. • C2-600 and C4-600 exhibited encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 88 % and sustained DOX release. • Hybrid nanoplatforms are not cytotoxic for cells, but when loaded DOX, they inhibit nearly 80 % of Caco-2 cancerous cells. • Hybrid nanostructures are promising nanoplatforms to be employed for theranostics of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles, or AuNPs, have garnered significant attention in biomedical research, especially in cancer therapy, due to their unique physicochemical properties. This work discusses the bioinspired production of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. This research conducted the synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze the synthesized nanoparticles. These approaches were used to characterize the nanoparticles’ dimensions, morphology, stability, and functional groups. At a wavelength of 532 nm, the nanoparticles, averaging 18 ± 3 nm in size, exhibited a pronounced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak, indicating the efficacy of the manufacturing method. Cell viability assessments performed using HeLa (a cervical cancer cell type), MCF-7 (a breast cancer cell model), and WI-38 (a healthy fibroblast cell model) demonstrated a concentration-dependent reduction in cancer cell viability, with little impact on healthy cells. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL of AuNPs, the viability of HeLa and MCF-7 cells decreased to 35.2% and 41.7%, respectively. The viability of WI-38 cells was maintained at 83.4%. The analysis of apoptosis revealed that the AuNPs induced apoptosis in cancer cells. The early and late apoptosis rates in HeLa cells were 35.4% and 45.8%, respectively, but in MCF-7 cells, they were 32.5% and 42.1%. The therapeutic efficacy of the nanoparticles was significantly enhanced by the bioactive compounds isolated from the plant. The eco-friendly synthesis method used in this study not only provides a sustainable means for nanoparticle production but also enhances the potential for their application in anti-cancer therapies. The therapeutic applications of these bioinspired AuNPs will be further explored via in vivo tests, which will be the emphasis of next research.

The use of eco-friendly engineered nanomaterials represents a recent solution for an effective and safe treatment of contaminated dredging sludge. In this study, an eco-designed engineered material based on cross-linked nanocellulose (CNS) was applied for the first time to decontaminate a real matrix from heavy metals (namely Zn, Ni, Cu, and Fe) and other undesired elements (mainly Ba and As) in a lab-scale study, with the aim to design a safe solution for the remediation of contaminated matrices. Contaminated freshwater sludge was treated with CNS coupled with a filtering fine-mesh net, and the obtained waters were tested for acute and sublethal toxicity. In order to check the safety of the proposed treatment system, toxicity tests were conducted by exposing the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri and the crustacean Heterocypris incongruens, while subtoxicity biomarkers such as lysosomal membrane stability, genetic, and chromosomal damage assessment were performed on the freshwater bivalve Dreissena polymorpha. Dredging sludge was found to be genotoxic, and such genotoxicity was mitigated by the combined use of CNS and a filtering fine-mesh net. Chemical analyses confirmed the results by highlighting the abetment of target contaminants, indicating the present model as a promising tool in freshwater sludge nanoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation and pain in the joints, which can lead to joint damage and disability over time. Nanotechnology in RA treatment involves using nano-scale materials to improve drug delivery efficiency, specifically targeting inflamed tissues and minimizing side effects. The study aims to develop and optimize a new class of eco-friendly and highly effective layered nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery in the treatment of RA. The study's primary objective is to develop and optimize a new class of layered nanomaterials that are both eco-friendly and highly effective in the targeted delivery of medications for treating RA. Also, by employing a combination of Adaptive Neuron-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) machine learning models, the study aims to precisely control nanomaterials synthesis, structural characteristics, and release mechanisms, ensuring delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs directly to the affected joints with minimal side effects. The in vitro evaluations demonstrated a sustained and controlled drug release, with an Encapsulation Efficiency (EE) of 85% and a Loading Capacity (LC) of 10%. In vivo studies in a murine arthritis model showed a 60% reduction in inflammation markers and a 50% improvement in mobility, with no significant toxicity observed in major organs. The machine learning models exhibited high predictive accuracy with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.667, a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.867, and an R2 value of 0.934. The nanomaterials also demonstrated a specificity rate of 87.443%, effectively targeting inflamed tissues with minimal off-target effects. These findings highlight the potential of this novel approach to significantly enhance RA treatment by improving drug delivery precision and minimizing systemic side effects. • Precise Drug Delivery in Rheumatoid Arthritis. • Reduced Systemic Effects in rheumatoid arthritis Treatment. • Innovative Nanotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. • Enhanced Drug Delivery Specificity. • Improved Layered Polymer Nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]