Plant gums for sustainable and eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles: recent advances

Abstract

Nanoparticles prepared through greener, safer and natural-based materials can be applied in synthesis and stabilization of nanomaterials, production of electrospun fibers, environmental bioremediation, biocatalysis, biosensors, coordination complexes of metal-hydrogels, and for antimicrobial and biomedical applications. Plant gums show various important advantages, including significant availability, structural diversity and suitable properties as green bio-based renewable materials. Plant gums have the remarkable properties, such as renewability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and capability of easy chemical modifications. These plant gums can be applied for safer and greener production and stabilization of nanoparticles. In this critical review, applications of plant gums, as non-toxic, cost-effective and biodegradable biopolymer based feedstocks, in nanoparticle eco-friendly synthesis are highlighted, comprehensively.