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. 2023 Apr 7;28(8):3299.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28083299.

Biosynthesis and Mathematical Interpretation of Zero-Valent Iron NPs Using Nigella sativa Seed Tincture for Indemnification of Carcinogenic Metals Present in Industrial Effluents

Muhammad Naveed  1 , Syeda Izma Makhdoom  1 , Shafiq Ur Rehman  2 , Tariq Aziz  3 , Farzana Bashir  4 , Urooj Ali  5 , Metab Alharbi  6 , Abdulrahman Alshammari  6 , Abdullah F Alasmari  6
Affiliations

Biosynthesis and Mathematical Interpretation of Zero-Valent Iron NPs Using Nigella sativa Seed Tincture for Indemnification of Carcinogenic Metals Present in Industrial Effluents

Muhammad Naveed et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVI-NPs) are utilized for the indemnification of a wide range of environmental pollutants. Among the pollutants, heavy metal contamination is the major environmental concern due to their increasing prevalence and durability. In this study, heavy metal remediation capabilities are determined by the green synthesis of ZVI-NPs using aqueous seed extract of Nigella sativa which is a convenient, environmentally friendly, efficient, and cost-effective technique. The seed extract of Nigella sativa was utilized as a capping and reducing agent for the generation of ZVI-NPs. UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate the ZVI-NP composition, shape, elemental constitution, and perspective functional groups, respectively. The biosynthesized ZVI-NPs displayed a peak of plasmon resonance spectra at 340 nm. The synthesized NPs were cylindrical in shape, with a size of 2 nm and (-OH) hydroxyl, (C-H) alkanes and alkynes N-C, N=C, C-O, =CH functional groups attached to the surface of ZVI-NPs. Heavy metals were successfully remediated from industrial wastewater collected from the various tanneries of Kasur. During the reaction duration of 24 h, different concentrations of ZVI-NPs (10 μg, 20 μg and 30 μg) per 100 mL were utilized for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. The 30 μg/100 mL of ZVI-NPs proved the pre-eminent concentration of NPs as it removed >90% of heavy metals. The synthesized ZVI-NPs were analyzed for compatibility with the biological system resulting in 87.7% free radical scavenging, 96.16% inhibition of protein denaturation, 60.29% and 46.13% anti-cancerism against U87-MG and HEK 293 cell lines, respectively. The physiochemical and exposure mathematical models of ZVI-NPs represented them as stable and ecofriendly NPs. It proved that biologically synthesized NPs from a seed tincture of Nigella sativa have a strong potential to indemnify heavy metals found in industrial effluent samples.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory; anti-proliferative; antioxidant; heavy metals; indemnification; zero-valent iron nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Determined reducing power of seed extract with control, i.e., ascorbic acid, showing the strong relationship, thus showing the capability of seed extract to reduce the ZVI-NPs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Observable color change of FeCl3 precursor from orange color to black color by the addition of Nigella sativa seed extract indicating the synthesis of ZVI-NPs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
UV visible spectroscopy for ZVI-NPs synthesized using Nigella sativa seed extract synthesized from 25 mM precursor solution of FeCl3.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Scanning electron micrograph of ZVI-NPs synthesized by seed extract of Nigella sativa at concentration of 25 mM of FeCl3. (A). at 1000×. (B). at 500×.
Figure 5
Figure 5
FTIR analysis of ZVI-NPs showing capping and reducing functional groups of seed extract Nigella sativa thus stabilizing the synthesized NPs.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(A) Showing EDX spot of which elemental composition is determined. (B) Graphical representation of detected elements.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Graphical representation of the remediated heavy metals (Cr-VI, Pb, As, and Pb) from 100 mL of industrial wastewater at respective concentrations of ZVI-NPs (10 μg, 20 μg, and 30 μg).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Graphical presentation of % inhibition of protein denaturation at specific concentrations of control (aspirin), seed extract, and ZVI-NPs, thus showing 96% anti-inflammatory activity by ZVI-NPs at 500 μg/mL.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Graphical representation for the calculation of IC50 and antioxidant activity showing the highest scavenging percentage of ZVI-NPs (87.7%) at the concentration of 1000 μg/mL.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Graphical presentation of % cell viability. (A). U87-MG cell line (B). HEK cell lines.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Density profiling of zero-valent iron NPs at the ratio 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6 of the water, showing the distribution of ZVI-NP densities within a wastewater at varying temperature and water ratios.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Mathematical model of specific heat capacity of ZVI-NPs at a particular temperature range of (15–40 °C) along with the solvent mixing at 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Mathematical model of thermal conductivity of ZVI-NPs at a particular temperature range of (15–40 °C) along with the solvent mixing at 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Exposure model based on working parameters showing (A). Mass production of ZVI-NPs (at large scale) (B). Particle production of ZVI-NPs (at small scale) at a particular time.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Based on environmental data, this exposure model displays (A). ZVI-NPs are being manufactured in large quantities (B). ZVI-NPs’ particle generation (on a small scale) at a specific moment.
Figure 16
Figure 16
A schematic illustration of showing the overview of the methodology used to synthesize ZVI-NPs and its application.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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