Green synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity of iron oxide nanoparticles using <i>Nigella sativa</i> seed extract
Hassan Al-Karagoly, Atiaf Ghanim Rhyaf, Hala Abbas Naji, Salim Albukhaty, Faizah A. AlMalki, Amal Alyamani, Jawaher J. Albaqami, Salman Aloufi
Abstract
Abstract Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is a more sustainable, safe, and environmentally friendly method. This study aimed to investigate the synthesis procedure of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using the seed extract of Nigella sativa ( N. sativa ) as a strong reducing agent and to estimate their cytotoxic and antibacterial properties. The obtained IONPs were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential (ZP), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The cytotoxicity of the biosynthesized IONPs was demonstrated by the MTT on a Vero cell line. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of the fabricated biosynthesis metal oxide NPs was tested on Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) (ATCC 35218) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) (ATCC 29213) bacterial strains using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. This study showed the formation of a well-dispersed, highly stable (ZP ζ = −51.8 mV) IO NPs with an average diameter of about 31.45 nm. Moreover, the biosynthetic NPs (IONPs) exhibited a significantly noncytotoxic effect when analyzed by the MTT assay. The biosynthetic NPs (NS-IONPs) exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus , where the inhibition zones were 12.34 ± 0.58 and 11.52 ± 0.58, respectively.