Green Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles from <i>Quercus</i> Bark Extracts: Characterization and Functional Properties
Năstaca-Alina Coman,
Alexandra Nicolae-Maranciuc,
Lavinia Berța,
Alexandru Nicolescu,
Mihai Babotă,
Adrian Man,
Dan Chicea,
Lenard Farczadi,
László Jakab-Farkas,
Barbara Silva,
Jéssica Veiga-Matos,
Corneliu Tanase
Affiliations
Năstaca-Alina Coman
Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania
Alexandra Nicolae-Maranciuc
Research Center for Complex Physical Systems, Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550012 Sibiu, Romania
Lavinia Berța
Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania
Alexandru Nicolescu
Laboratory of Chromatography, Institute of Advanced Horticulture Research of Transylvania, Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3–5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Mihai Babotă
Laboratory of Chromatography, Institute of Advanced Horticulture Research of Transylvania, Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3–5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Adrian Man
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania
Dan Chicea
Research Center for Complex Physical Systems, Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550012 Sibiu, Romania
Lenard Farczadi
Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania
László Jakab-Farkas
Faculty of Technical and Human Sciences, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, 540485 Târgu Mures, Romania
Barbara Silva
UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Jéssica Veiga-Matos
UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Corneliu Tanase
Research Center of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania
Quercus species are utilized for their durable wood, providing sustenance for wildlife, conserving biodiversity, and contributing ecological, medicinal, and esthetic benefits to ecosystems and landscapes. In this study, we aimed to use the bark of three Quercus species (Q. dalechampi, Q. fraineto, and Q. petraea) for the synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles (AgNPs and AuNPs). The aqueous extracts from the bark of Quercus sp. acted both as reducing and stabilizing agent, facilitating the rapid synthesis of AuNPs (AuQD, AuQF, and AuQP) and AgNPs (AgQD, AgQF, and AgQP). The obtained nanoparticles were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, DLS, and FTIR. Characterizations revealed that the nanoparticles exhibited a variety of shapes, such as polygonal, triangular, and spherical forms, with sizes ranging between 14 and 24 nm for AuNPs and 45–70 nm for AgNPs. The total phenolic content was assessed through spectroscopic methods, while several individual phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using UPLC-PDA. Furthermore, we assessed the antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal capacities of AuNPs, AgNPs, and raw extracts. The highest antioxidant activity was observed for raw extracts, followed by AgNPs and AuNPs, while the most potent antibacterial and antifungal activity was observed in AgQP. Moreover, cytotoxicity was examined in a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The results indicated no cytotoxic effects for AuNPs, while AgNPs and the raw extracts exhibited cytotoxic effects after 48 h of incubation. This research underscores the multifaceted utility of Quercus bark extracts in the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles and their subsequent bioactivity assessment, suggesting promising perspectives for their application in various fields while urging cautious consideration of their cytotoxic implications.
