ISSN: 0973-7510
E-ISSN: 2581-690X
, Raghad J. Fayyad, Rasha Saad Nuaman, Noor T. Hamdan and Sara A.J. MalikiTitanium nanoparticles (TiNPs) have been synthesized due to its certain characteristics that are expected like non-toxic, eco-friendly, and bioactivity. In this study, the researchers used Banana Peels Extract (BPE) with titanium dioxide to prepare new nanoparticles which are never carried before. These nanoparticles were biologically synthesized using an aqueous solution of banana peel extract as a bioreductant. The novel TiNPs were successfully prepared and characterized using Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), and examined its antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic bacteria as well as insecticidal agent against Musca domestica. The instrumental analysis confirms the presence of TiNPs with average diameter: 88.45 nm and volume 31.5 nm as resulted by AFM and XRD respectively, while the bioactivity exam to TiNPs shows inhibitory effect against several pathogenic bacteria, as well as it cause a high mortality percentage against three larval stages of house fly.
Banana Peel Extract (BPE), eco-friendly, titanium nanoparticals, Musca domestica.
Green synthesis of nanoparticles seeks to minimize generated wastes and apply prospective progression1,2. In latest years, materials with nano-sized aspect have paying an attention to the researchers all the way through the world. In up to date nano science and technology, the interface between inorganic nanoparticles and biological structures are one of the majority exciting area of research. In addition to that another thing is concern in this field of study like health, environmental (eco-friendly), non-toxic materials in synthesis procedures3,4.
Besides that, biosynthesis of nanoparticles has other properties like optical, catalytic, and magnetic properties which allow them to be applied in biosensing, catalysis, imaging, drug delivery, and in medicine and since it has this wide applications the production of nanoparticles is a significant aspect of nanotechnology5,6.
Plants, enzymes, and microorganisms were suggested to be used as probable natural alternatives products to the lethal chemicals that are non-biodegradable, hazardous to all living creatures on the earth, as well as its high cost7. Plants extracts serve as capping and reducing agents in the preparation of nanoparticles which are more beneficial comparing with other biological procedures8 these techniques of nanoparticles synthesis which based on plants are favored due to its properties as, ecofriendly, cost-effective, a single-step biosynthesis process and non-toxic to workers and researchers9. Classically, different parts of the plant can be used as the main source to obtain the extract such as, fruit, fruit peels, bark, callus, and root. These parts have been examined in the synthesis of gold, silver, titanium nanoparticles in various shapes and sizes10.
Banana (Musa paradaisica), belongs to the Musaceae family, and it is a standout amongst the most vital tropical fruits in the world market and usually after pulp consumption, banana peels are usually discarded, the peels represent approximately 18-33% of the whole fruit, and presently peels are not used for any other purposes and sometimes it is used as animals food in a very limited extent11. It is therefore a significant and vital to discover applications for these peels in ecological topics. It was found that banana peels are rich in pectin, lignin and hemicelluloses which encourage the researchers in current study to use them in green synthesis of nanoparticles, furthermore, banana peels contains large amounts of phenolic compounds that can act as a ligand and coordinate with the metal ion and form the metallic nanoparticles12.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is naturally formed and usually used as a white pigment and paints, food colorants, papers, plastics, inks, and toothpastes because it is nontoxic, it is also considered as low-cost metal due to its wide existence in nature. Due to its ability to absorb UV light and high refractive index, TiO2 nanoparticles have been used to synthesize nanoparticles with many plants like Nyctan, arbortristis extract, leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus, Eclipta prostrate aqueous leaf extract, and peel extract of Annona squamosa L.13,14.
In the current paper, titanium dioxide has been used for the first time with the water extract obtained from banana peels to synthesize the titanium nanoparticles TiNPs and was characterized using several instrumental analysis (UV–visible spectroscopy, XRD and AFM). Activity of nove TiNPs against bacteria and insecticide agents as well as against several pathogenic bacteria and (Muscadomestica) respectively has been examined and discussed.
Preparation of Banana Peel Extract (BPE)
Fresh banana was gained from local markets; banana peels were cut it into small pieces, washed three times with distilled water to remove external dirt layers and contaminants from it then, the peels pieces were dried on paper toweling. A 75 g of peels were place in a beaker containing 150 ml double distilled water and then boiled at 100°C for 20 min, and filtered through Whatman No. 1 filter paper for two times. The extract was stored in fridge at 4°C15.
Preparation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs)
Titanium dioxide was obtained from Sigma Aldrich, China. Molar mass was 79.87g/mol and density was 4.2 g/cm3. Their average size of the titanium oxide bulk particles (TiO2BPs) was (550 nm). Deionized distilled water (DW) was used as a solvent to prepare a solution of (100 mg/ml) concentration, and then only 5 ml of this solution was added in dropwise to 50 ml of Banana Peel Extract (BPE) solution with a continuance stirring (300 rpm) for one hour, this mixing process was a achieved on a hot plate using magnetic stirrer and at ambient temperature.
Characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles
UV–visible Spectroscopy
The UV–VIS absorption spectra of novel TiNPs solution was achieved using Schimadzu 1601 spectrophotometer and 200–800 nm range16.
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
This analysis was used to characterize many properties of biosynthesized NPs such as, NPs size, NPs surface, NPs topography, and granularity volume distribution of NPs. A thin film of the NPs sample was prepared on a glass slide using 100µl of the sample on the slide, allowed to dry for 5 min, then the slide was scanned using AFM, (AA-3000, USA)17.
X-Ray Diffraction
X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) was used to determine and identify the formation of the synthesized NPs, the XRD apparatus (Shimadzu 6000, Japan) operate at a voltage of (40 kv) and current of (30 mM) with Cu Ka radiation in a (q-2q) configuration.
Microorganisms
Microorganisms were collected from laboratory of post graduate in biology department / College of Science / AL-Mustansireyah University. These micro-organisms are: Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus sp.) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Kleipseilla sp.,) the strains of bacteria were maintained on nutrient agar slants at 4°C.
Antibacterial activity of synthesized NPs and banana peel extract (BPE)
Three concentrations of TiO2NPs were prepared in (100, 50, and 25 mg/ml)m there bioactivity were evaluated using well diffusion method according to (CLSI)18.
Insects rearing and Larvicidal bioassay
The Insects colony was collected from house fly (Musca domistica) which is free from insecticides and pathogenic organisms, this animal house belong to Biology Department, College of Science, Al-Mustansiriyah University. The colony was maintained under 28 ± 2 °C (starting from 1st larval stage reaching to 3rd instar stage). The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instar larvae were completed in healthy environment; each test was replicated for three times. The collected Musca domistica larvae were placed in a cup contains 10 g of nutritional media (this media consist of 10 g of yeast extract, 200 g of fish food, and 100 ml of distilled water). 2 mL from each concentration of TiO2NPs were added to each cup; all cups were covered with muslin cloth and kept in room temperature for 24 hrs. Larvae were considered dead if there is no significant motility19, mortality percentage was calculated by applying Abbott’s formula20:
X: Percent of alive in the check
Y: Percent of alive in the treatment
Identification of TiO2 nanoparticals
Titanium nanoparticles were identified via different considerations, visually the reaction mixture of TiNPs turned to white grayish color after 30 min. comparing with the white color of titanium oxide indicating the formation of titanium nanoparticles as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Shows the comparison between three solutions:
A: Titanium Dioxide bulk solution
B: Water extract of banana peel solution
C: Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles solution
UV–Visible Spectral
Fig. 2 represent the TiNPs UV-Visible spectra, the TiO2 absorbance was 4.2 at wave length 208 nm, while Fig. 3 shows the value of energy gap (Eg) of TiNPs which was 4.7(ev) these results are agreed with Jawad 201721.
Fig. 2. Absorbance spectrum of synthesized (TiO2NPs).
Fig. 3. Energy gap diagram for (TiO2NPs) thin film.
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
Table 1 indicates the size of TiNPs ranged between (65-115 nm) with average diameter (88.45 nm), while the roughness average (RA) and root mean square were 1.53 nm and 1.77 nm respectively. Fig. 4 shows AFM topographic images of the TiNPs while Fig. 5 shows granularity volume distribution of TiNPs.
Fig. 4. AFM topographic images.
Fig. 5. Granularity volume distribution of TNPs.
Table (1):
Dimensions of synthesized TiO2 NPs.
Roughness average |
1.53 nm |
Root mean square |
1.77 nm |
Average diameter |
88.45 nm |
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
Fig. 6 shows the X-Ray Diffractometer pattern, the diagram indicates the presence of three peaks, strong diffraction peaks (2-theta 28.2956°), (2-theta 40.4901°), and (2-theta 50.1821°), while the average crystallite size of TiNPs was 31.5 nm according to Scherer’s equation.
Fig. 6. X-Ray Diffractometer pattern of TiNPs.
Antimicrobial activity of titanium nanoparticles
Bioactivity of the novel TiNPs showed that these nanoparticals exhibited antimicrobial impact against the pathogenic microorganisms, the inhibition zone diameter was varies as depicted in Table 2, while Banana Peels Extract (BPE) did not shows any activity against these bacteria.
Table (2):
Bioactivity of TiNPs against certain bacteria.
| Compound | Pathogenic Microorganism | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gram Positive | Gram Negative | |||||
| Stapylococcus aureus | Steptococcus spp. | Staphylococcus Epidermidis | Bacillus Sp. | Escherecia coli | Klebsiella spp. | |
| Banana Peels Extract (BPE) | ||||||
| TiNPs
25% conc. |
6 | 18 | ||||
| TiNPs
50% conc. |
27 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 13 |
| TiNPs
100% conc. |
16 | 12 | ||||
5-10 week activity against bacteria, 10-15 Moderate activity, 15+ Over 15 consider to be strongly active
All the prepared concentrations of titanium nanoparticals shows bioactivity against the gram positive bacteria (Stapylococcus aureus), and (Steptococcus spp.) while the first concentration (25%) doesn’t shows any activity against (Staphylococcus Epidermidis, Escherecia. coli, Klebsiella spp., and Bacillu ssp.) as it is clearly appear from Table 2. Also the results show that there was no antimicrobial activity for banana peel extract against all tested pathogens.
Table 2 indicates that best effective concentration to the newly synthesized TiNPs was on 50% conc., this concentration shows strong bioactivity against gram positive bacteria than negative bacteria, that’s because Gram negative bacteria have cell walls with a thin layer of peptidoglycan and an outer membrane with a lipopolysaccharide component which is not exist or found in Gram positive bacteria and this property enable the TiNPs to penetrate the cell membrane of Gram positive bacteria and cause its fatality, this results agreed with the results obtained by Adam and his coworkers22 and Shrevastava and his coworkers23.
The most logical explanation proposed that the possible mechanisms involving the interaction between TiNPs with the biomolecules which propose that microbes have negative charge (represented by the membrane of the microbe) and the positive charge (represented by TiNPs), this “electromagnetic” attraction between the metal ion and the microbe membrane will leads to microbial oxidation and rapid death24.
Zhang and his coworkers suggested that positive ion in nanoparticals form a coordination bond with the thiol group (-SH) which is part of protein molecule which is part of bacteria membrane, this deactivation of protein will increase the permeability of the bacteria membrane leading to fast death25.
Larvicidal effect of TiNPs
Fig. 7 indicates the larvicidal analysis by which the larvae death was scored after 24 hrs, the results shows that there was a marked mortality recorded during the development of (Musca domistica) larvae depending upon the concentration of each dose. The highest mortality was observed for 1st stage followed by 2nd and 3rd larval stage respectively. While insignificant mortality observed in 1st larval stage vials treated with water and BPE (6.6%, 6.6%) as shown in Fig. 8.
Fig. 7. Mortality percentage of house fly larvae treated with synthesized TiO2NPs.
Fig. 8. Phenotypic variation observed in A: 2nd larval stage, B: 3rd larval stage of Musca domistica treated with 100 mg/ml prepared TiNPs.
The mortality percentage is proportional to the concentration of the synthesized TiNPs which indicates that the essential role of concentration in larvicidal activity. Each test included a control group with three replicates for each concentration. The results agreed with Sabat and his coworkers26. After hatching from the egg, the larva starts feeding with TiNPs treated food, once it pass in larval gut, it interferes with the a certain process that leads to unusual phenotypes which end with neuronal defect, ending with larvae death.
Hassan and his coworkers27 reported that the possible mechanism behind the death of house fly is the dispersion of metal nanoparticles via oral route or through rupturing of the cuticle membrane, by this means the TiNPs enter into the cavity of insect body to affect the surviving the ability of generating the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), these particles are causative agent for oxidative stress, which leads to eggs damage due to its toxic tension, then the egg are not able to proceed on its next developmental stages. This analogous mechanism was recorded by magnetite NPs which shows bioactivity against Drosophilla melanogaster28 and silver NPs bioactivity against Culex pipienes29.
In producing TiNPs, there several factors affecting its yield among them are temperature of the synthesis process, pH of the reaction, purity of the metal salt in addition to the extract itself, these factors play an effective role on the yield and characteristics of TiNPs, these factors was studied by Njagi and his coworkers30.
In this study, the researchers used banana peels extract in a new green synthesis method to synthesized titanium nanoparticals, this method has not been carried before and it was found that TiNPs show bioactivity against bacteria which increase its future applications against many serious human pathogens. In addition, TiNPs shows good larvicidal applications against Musca domistica resulted. These results will open wide and new biomedical applications.
The researcher concludes the following points:
- A novel, green, eco-friendly TiNPs was synthesized successfully.
- The synthesis procedure was rapid, simple, and considered as a new approach method to synthesize TiO2NPs.
- The synthesis was based on using agricultural waste material (banana peels).
- Banana peels were chosen in this research due to its composition (rich with pectin, cellulose, hemicelluloses…) in addition to its low cost.
- Due to the bioactivity of the novel TiNPs against bacteria and insects (house fly), the researchers expect a wide and various applications of green synthesized nanoparticles precisely against infectious bacteria, biomedical, and pharmaceutical applications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank all the staff at Biology Department, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Iraq for their support and help to achieve this research.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declares that there is no conflict of interest.
AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTION
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
FUNDING
None.
ETHICS STATEMENT
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.
AVAILABILITY OF DATA
All datasets generated or analyzed during this study are included in the manuscript and/or the Supplementary Files.
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