Green synthesis of safe zero valent iron nanoparticles by Myrtus communis leaf extract as an effective agent for reducing excessive iron in iron-overloaded mice, a thalassemia model

Abstract

Green synthesis of Myrtus communis-Zero Valent Iron Nanoparticles (MC-ZVINs) was carried out in an alkaline environment. These nanoparticles were introduced for testing in vivo iron chelation in an ironoverload thalassemia model in mice. The MC-ZVINs were characterized by the use of imaging (electron microscopy) and spectroscopic (UV-vis and infrared absorption, dynamic light scattering and X-ray diffraction) methods. These methods demonstrated that some polyphenols are bound to the surfaces of the MC-ZVINs as a capping/stabilizing agent. The MC-ZVINs and defroxamine were injected 5 times a week over 4 weeks. The total iron and Fe 3+ content of serum was determined by microwave plasmaatomic emission spectroscopy and an Fe 3+ ion measuring kit respectively and liver enzyme levels were evaluated with an auto-analyzer. Morphological changes of the liver were examined by haematoxylin and eosin and Prussian blue staining. Additionally, the bioactivity of the iron nanoparticles was checked by DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, reducing power and iron (Fe 2+ ) chelating ability.Iron-overloaded mice treated with the MC-ZVINs, indicated a drastic reduction in serum iron content when compared with the control groups and those treated with defroxamine. MC-ZVINs exhibit satisfactory potency to chelate excessive iron in mice. The data collected in this study will be helpful for selecting the most appropriate operational conditions for synthesizing green ZVINs in biomedical applications.

Biosynthesis of iron nanoparticles using Ageratum conyzoides extracts, their antimicrobial and photocatalytic activity

“…From the SEM micrographs obtained (Fig. 5), the synthesized nanoparticles are cubic in nature and have variable sizes as compared to chemical synthesized nanoparticles [15]. This variability in size is due to the inability of the secondary metabolites to control the size of the particles formed as compared to chemical synthesis though phytomediated synthesis is a green approach.…”

“…This variability in size is due to the inability of the secondary metabolites to control the size of the particles formed as compared to chemical synthesis though phytomediated synthesis is a green approach. Since the plant extract contains various secondary metabolites, they act as reducing and stabilizing agents during bio-reduction reaction during the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles [15]. EDX spectrum showed that Fe-P NPs are composed primarily of Fe, O, C, and Cl.…”

Phytofabrication of iron nanoparticles and their catalytic activity

“…The second degradation step centered at 250 °C in DTGA can be linked to the decomposition of the organic layer around the particles. This decomposition makes the main peak in the DTGA curve which has been reported to be present as phyto mediated synthesis of nanoparticles affords them an organic capping layer [33,49].…”

“…In the case of biological synthesis of nanoparticles, the aqueous metal ions are reduced and as a result a color change is the first qualitative indication that nanoparticles have been formed ( Fig. 1) [33,34]. Variation of the ratio of the extract to the iron solution revealed that the nanoparticles were synthesized when the volume of the extracts to that of the metal ion was high ( Fig.…”

“…Moreover, disappearance of the shoulder centered at 350 nm in the plant extract was only observed when the concentration of iron used was 0.1 M. The metal ion concentration is an important factor that needs to be considered and this may be adjusted by dilution [21,36]. The presence of chemically complex biomolecules, e.g., enzymes, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and polysaccharides, and organic acids act as reducing and capping agents during synthesis [33].…”