The role of phytochemicals from plant species for the production of nanomaterials is directly related to the creation of an important symbiosis between Nanotechnology and Energy.  Redox active phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and carbohydrates serve as reservoirs of electrons with energetics capable of reducing metal salts to the corresponding nanoparticles. The life cycle analysis of using phytochemicals as sources of electrons for the manufacture of chemical raw materials and fine chemicals, without the intervention of any toxic chemical,   at industrial scales must be our priority. However, specific types of nanoparticles developed through Green Nanotechnology processes will also serve unmet clinical needs within the medical sector. We have pioneered the production of engineered gold nanoparticles through the interaction of phytochemicals from Soy, Tea, Cinnamon and a host of naturally available plants and herbs. The benefits of using phytochemicals for the conversion of gold salt to the corresponding gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are multi fold. For example, the polyphenolic phytochemicals such as  Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) created multi layered robust coating around the gold nanoparticles. Encapsulation of AuNPs by EGCG not only provided excellent in vitro/in vivo stability for the gold nanoparticles but the proven high affinity of EGCG toward protein receptors on cancerous cells resulted in the discovery of tumor specific gold nanoparticles. This discovery was also replicated using the radioactive gold-198 precursor to produce gold nanoparticles that are inherently therapeutic.  Detailed therapeutic efficacy studies of EGCG-198-AuNP in prostate tumor bearing mice have demonstrated excellent therapeutic efficacy in treating prostate tumors.  This presentation will discuss, the overall technological and economic implications on how Green Nanotechnology will provide significant benefits in a myriad of sectors including as sources of energy, in biomedicine, and materials science.

Green nanotechnology provides sustainability in energy and medical applications

246th National Meeting (2013)

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