conference paper · IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering
Animal waste materials like goat fur can be repurposed to synthesise silver nanoparticles. In this study, goat fur was hydrolysed with sodium hydroxide to prepare an extract capable of reducing silver nitrate into silver nanoparticles. Analysis confirmed the formation of nanoparticles ranging between 11.67 and 31.47 nanometres in size, with proteins acting as capping and stabilising agents. Biological testing demonstrated strong larvicidal activity against Anopheles mosquito larvae, achieving 60 to 100 percent mortality within 12 hours. The nanoparticles also showed substantial antioxidant properties, anticoagulant activity, and thrombolytic effects on human blood, causing 25 percent clot lysis. Cytogenotoxicity tests using onion bulb assays revealed that high concentrations induced root growth inhibition and chromosomal aberrations over 72 hours, suggesting potential relevance for anticancer research alongside a need for caution regarding cellular toxicity.
Finding value in agricultural waste such as animal fur offers sustainable routes for producing functional nanomaterials. These nanoparticles exhibit diverse biological activities, including pest control and blood clot breakdown. However, their ability to damage chromosomes highlights the critical importance of evaluating safety and toxicity before biological nanomaterials can be considered for medical or environmental interventions.
This early-stage laboratory research could inform vector control products and therapeutic agents targeting blood clots or abnormal cell growth. Potential users include biopesticide manufacturers and pharmaceutical developers exploring alternative nanoparticle synthesis routes from waste biomass. However, because the material remains in preliminary in vitro and plant-based testing, and demonstrated chromosomal toxicity at higher concentrations, substantial further safety, formulation, and clinical validation are needed before real-world commercial application.
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Abstract Animal waste materials are rarely used in the synthesis of nanoparticles compared to microorganisms and plant materials. The use of animal fur (goat) in synthesis could assist in turning waste to wealth. Thus, potentials of animal fur in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AF-AgNPs), its biological activities and safety through cytogenotoxicity were investigated. Animal fur (1 g) was hydrolyzed with 100 ml of 0.1 M NaOH at 90 °C for 1 h, cooled and centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 30 min. The extract (1 ml) was added to 1 mM AgNO3 (40 ml) to reduce Ag+ to its nanoparticles. The AF-AgNPs was characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Larvicidal, antioxidant, anticoagulant and thrombolytic potentials of AF-AgNPs were studied. Onion bulbs (20) were exposed to 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, 10.0 and 100.0 μg/ml of AF-AgNPs solution for its cytogenotoxicity study with AgNO3 solution and distilled water as controls. Microscopic (24, 48 and 72 h) assessment of the onion cells and macroscopic (72 h) evaluation of the roots were also studied. The AF-AgNPs solution was brownish with surface plasmon resonance at 419 nm. Evaluation of FTIR spectra showed that protein molecules were used as capping and stabilization agents. The AF-AgNPs had size range of 11.67-31.47 nm, caused 60-100% mortality of exposed Anopheles mosquito larvae in 12 h, and scavenged DPPH (40-59%) and hydrogen peroxide (75-94%). The nanoparticles also exhibited anticoagulant and thrombolytic potentials on human blood with 25% lysis compared to 13% observed for only extract. Various chromosomal aberrations and growth inhibition were induced by AF-AgNPs especially at 72 h of 100 μg/ml. Extract from animal fur was explored in biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles and found to have high potentials as antioxidant, anticoagulant, thrombolytic agents. Inhibition of cell growth observed especially at highest concentration can be explored in anticancer drugs though with caution due to AF-AgNPs potential to induce chromosomal aberrations.
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DOI: 10.1088/1757-899x/805/1/012041
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