Biosynthesis of Copper and Zinc Nanoparticles from Flowers and Their Potential Applications

This chapter highlights the green synthesis of copper (Cu NPs) and zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) nanoparticles from floral extracts, which has become a sustainable and eco-friendly process by utilizing the natural stabilizing and reducing properties of phytochemicals. Aiming to characterize and explore the potential applications of these nanoparticles, this study investigates the synthesis of Cu and Zn NPs from various floral sources. In synthesis, solutions of metal salts are combined with flower extracts to form nanoparticles, which are confirmed by methods including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of the resultant nanoparticles are also found to be effective against numerous pathogenic bacteria, indicating that they can be employed as new antimicrobial agents. Their antioxidant properties also imply applications in food technology and cosmetics. In addition to this, their ability to bind with environmental contaminants also implies potential for environmental remediation. In summary, this research shows the possibility of using flower extracts to synthesize nanoparticles, and it holds the key to pioneering applications in medicine and environmental science. Future work will focus on optimizing synthesis parameters and investigating the entire spectrum of biological activities of these biogenic nanoparticles.