Green Synthesis of Iron-Based Nanoparticles and Their Applications

Green synthesis of iron-based nanoparticles employs biological materials such as plant extracts, bacteria, fungi and algae to mediate reduction of iron salts under mild, eco-friendly conditions. These methods yield zero-valent iron and iron oxide (for example magnetite and hematite) nanoparticles with controlled size, shape and surface chemistry conferred by phytochemicals acting as both reducing and capping agents. This approach avoids hazardous reagents and high energy inputs associated with conventional physical and chemical routes while offering high biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit multifunctional properties—including magnetic responsiveness, large surface area and catalytic activity—enabling diverse applications. In environmental remediation they serve as adsorbents and reductants for heavy metals, dyes and organic pollutants. In biomedicine they act as carriers for drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents and antimicrobial or anticancer therapeutics. Moreover, their recyclability via external magnetic fields underpins scalable wastewater treatment and catalytic processes. Ongoing efforts focus on optimising yield, enhancing surface functionality and elucidating ecotoxicological profiles to ensure safe deployment at industrial and clinical scales.

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Green Synthesis of Iron-Based Nanoparticles and Their Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in green synthesis of iron-based nanoparticles and their applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Green synthesis: A methodology employing biological agents such as plant extracts or microorganisms to reduce metal precursors into nanoparticles under mild conditions without toxic reagents.

Zero-valent iron (ZVI): Iron in its elemental oxidation state (Fe⁰) formed as nanoparticles with strong reducing power for environmental remediation.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs): Nanoscale particles composed of iron oxides (for example magnetite Fe₃O₄ or hematite α-Fe₂O₃) exhibiting magnetic properties and surface reactivity.

Phytochemical reduction: The process by which plant-derived compounds such as flavonoids, phenolics and terpenoids convert metal ions to nanoparticles while stabilising particle growth.

Superparamagnetism: A magnetic state in nanoparticles below a critical size where they exhibit strong magnetisation under an external field but no residual magnetism after field removal.

Photocatalysis: Acceleration of a chemical reaction by light-activated nanoparticles that generate reactive species to degrade organic pollutants.

References

1. Green Synthesis of Iron Nanoparticles and Their Environmental Applications and Implications. Nanomaterials (2016).
2. Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticle using Carica papaya leaf extract: application for photocatalytic degradation of remazol yellow RR dye and antibacterial activity. Heliyon (2020).
3. Green Synthesis: An Eco-friendly Route for the Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. Frontiers in Nanotechnology (2021).