Synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles from Enicostemma littorale plant extract and investigation of their photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties

Abstract

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiOxi‐NPs) with a spherical shape have been developed using a green aqueous extract of the Enicostemma littorale plant, and their efficacy on various photochemical and biological applications like antibacterial and anticancer has been studied. The intense vibrational bands in the Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) spectrum correspond to Ni‐O, C=O, and O‐H, confirming the formation of NiOxi‐NP. Also, two intense peaks at 2θ = 36.42° (111) and 42.87° (200) in the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum confirm the NiOxi‐NP crystal lattice as face center cubic (FCC). To determine the light‐absorbing behavior and shape of the newly produced NiOxi‐NP, UV‐visible, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations were performed. NiOxi‐NP has a maximal distinctive UV‐visible absorption wavelength in the 306‐nm region. The nickel oxide nanoparticles are formed in spherical form and dispersed in the 33‐ to 46‐nm size range, according to the SEM and TEM investigations. According to the 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl thiazolyl‐2)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the Michigan Cancer Foundation‐7 (MCF‐7) breast tumor cancer cell line is extremely responsive to the green NiOxi‐NPs' exceptional lethal effectiveness. The IC50 value for MCF‐7 cell lines is 12.87 μg/mL. When tested against bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus, and Escherichia coli stains, the aforementioned particles demonstrate greater activity on the three bacteria. The photocatalytic activity of the greenery NiOxi‐NP over the dye rhodamine B (RBD) was finished in 16 min when the solution concentration was 0.025 mg/L. The green synthesis of NiOxi‐NP nanoparticles can behave as a better UV‐visible screener between 290 and 450 nm, a better antimicrobial agent, a better RBD degradation agent, and a better low‐dose anticancer agent.