Green synthesis of ZrO2 nanoparticles and nanocomposites for biomedical and environmental applications: a review

Abstract

Pollution and diseases such as the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) are major issues that may be solved partly by nanotechnology. Here we review the synthesis of ZrO 2 nanoparticles and their nanocomposites using compounds from bacteria, fungi, microalgae, and plants. For instance, bacteria, microalgae, and fungi secret bioactive metabolites such as fucoidans, digestive enzymes, and proteins, while plant tissues are rich in reducing sugars, polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, and amino acids. These compounds allow reducing, capping, chelating, and stabilizing during the transformation of Zr 4+ into ZrO 2 nanoparticles. Green ZrO 2 nanoparticles display unique properties such as a nanoscale size of 5–50 nm, diverse morphologies, e.g. nanospheres, nanorods and nanochains, and wide bandgap energy of 3.7–5.5 eV. Their high stability and biocompatibility are suitable biomedical and environmental applications, such as pathogen and cancer inactivation, and pollutant removal. Emerging applications of green ZrO 2 -based nanocomposites include water treatment, catalytic reduction, nanoelectronic devices, and anti-biofilms.

Influence of the Physical Inclusion of ZrO2/TiO2 Nanoparticles on Physical, Mechanical, and Morphological Characteristics of PMMA-Based Interim Restorative Material

“…This property of ZrO 2 can be used to modify its mechanical properties [18]. Currently, ZrO 2 is frequently utilized in various dental applications such as dental implants, abutments, crown prostheses, and postimplant restorations [19,20].…”

Adsorption of Rutin from Aqueous Solution over an OMS‐2‐Modified ZrO2 Nanocomposite

“…At pH 7.0 nearly to the p K a of rutin, the ZrO 2 ‐OMS‐2‐D adsorption capacities reached the highest value. The possible reason was that the electrostatic adsorption and repulsion were minimized, and cis‐hydroxyl of rutin were more easily to form pentacyclic complex with Zr 4+ of the ZrO 2 ‐OMS‐2‐D surface to achieve high adsorption captative [41] . Increasing pH to 9.0, excess OH − in the solution could compete rutin adsorption, and meanwhile, the increasing negative charge of rutin and ZrO 2 ‐OMS‐2‐D was not conductive to adsorption owing to enhanced static repulsion.…”

Biosynthesis of Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles by Streptomyces sp. HC1: Characterization and Bioactivity

“…Zirconia (ZrO2) is one of the important materials used in the industry because of its high melting point, high mechanical properties, low thermal conductivity and high ionic conductivity [7][8][9]. ZrO2 is transparent in the visible; it has high refrac-tive index and bandgap values, good adhesion to substrates (glass, ceramics, silicon, polycor, and sapphire), thermal stability, and corrosion resistance [10]. Zirconia (ZrO2)is a ceramic material with a number of interesting and useful properties [11].…”