Green synthesized metal nanoparticles appear to meet expectations of low ecotoxicity: what about genotoxicity?

Abstract

Advancements in technology and industry have made the use of nanomaterials indispensable. Due to concerns about the environmental damage caused by classical synthesis methods (Classical Synthesis, CS), the alternative 'Green Synthesis Method' (GS) has been developed, which aims to reduce toxicity by using environmentally friendly materials. This study examines whether nanoparticles synthesized through GS exhibit lower genotoxicity. To this end, research articles published between 2005 and 2025 on nanoparticle synthesis using the GS method were reviewed, and 551 studies were analyzed. The evaluation focused on gold, silver, platinum, copper, iron, and cobalt nanoparticles, which are widely used in various applications. The findings suggest that the GS method offers advantages in terms of genotoxicity. Additionally, this paper provides an in-depth analysis of how the GS method influences the properties of nanoparticles and explores the genotoxic mechanisms of nanoparticles synthesized through this approach.