Biogenic Synthesis of Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles by Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum: Comparative Physicochemical and Biological Evaluation
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 1 (March 2026) pp. 668-681
Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable nanotechnology has accelerated interest in biological synthesis as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical routes. This study compares silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) prepared using a Lactiplantibacillus plantarum mediated biogenic method with those synthesized chemically, focusing on differences in their physicochemical, structural and functional characteristics. UV–Visible spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle formation in both samples; however, the biogenic SiO₂ exhibited a sharper absorption peak at 225 nm, attributed to microbial metabolites acting as natural capping and stabilizing agents. In contrast, the chemically synthesized nanoparticles showed a weaker peak at 220 nm, suggesting mild aggregation and lower uniformity. FTIR spectra of the biogenic nanoparticles revealed functional groups such as amides, hydroxyls and carboxylates, confirming the involvement of bacterial biomolecules in surface functionalization. XRD patterns verified the crystalline SiO₂ phase in both samples, with broader peaks indicating smaller crystallite sizes in the biogenic sample. Elemental analysis using EDAX demonstrated high purity for both nanoparticle types, with reduced carbon residues in the biogenic product. FESEM and DLS analyses showed smaller, moderately aggregated biogenic particles (194 nm) compared to larger chemically synthesized particles (332 nm). Functionally, the L. Plantarum derived SiO₂ NPs displayed superior antioxidant activity, achieving 75.4% DPPH inhibition, and exhibited enhanced antifungal activity against Candida parapsilosis, with a zone of inhibition of 27.1 ± 1.4 mm at 100 mg/mL. Overall, the findings indicate that biological synthesis provides a green, efficient and reliable strategy for producing stable, bio functional SiO₂ NPs suitable for sustainable biomedical and catalytic applications.
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Reference
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