Green synthesis of tin and titanium nanoparticles using edible plant extracts: exploring their anticancer and antifungal activities

Abstract

The rise of green chemistry underscores the need for simple and cost-effective nanomaterial synthesis utilizing plant extracts. In this study, tin (IV) oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (SnO₂NPs and TiO₂NPs) were synthesized through a green method from Cnicus benedictus and Aronia melanocarpa extracts, respectively. These plant sources were selected due to their rich bioactive content, which enhances nanoparticle synthesis and stability. Besides, the use of these extracts eliminates the need for harmful reducing agents, offering an eco-friendly approach compared to conventional green synthesis methods. Characterization with XRD, ATR-FTIR, and FE-SEM confirmed the successful synthesis. SnO₂NPs had a tetragonal crystal structure with a dimension of 27.48 nm, while the average crystal size of the dominant rutile phase in the structure of TiO₂NPs was 19.88 nm. ATR-FTIR spectra of SnO₂NPs and TiO₂NPs indicated the presence of specific vibration peaks of the O–Sn–O and Ti–O bonds, respectively. While the SnO₂NPs had a spherical structure, the TiO₂NPs did not distribute homogeneously, and there were clustered particles in the structure. Both nanomaterials were found to be effective against the human breast cancer cell line. The cell viability was 43.45% and 49.56% after treatment with SnO₂NPs and TiO₂NPs, respectively. Finally, especially SnO₂NPs but not TiO₂NPs showed anti-proliferative effects on both wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 and Candida albicans. These findings indicate the potential applicability of these nanoparticles in biomedicine, particularly for targeted cancer therapies and antifungal treatments, as well as in environmental remediation.

Graphical abstract