GREEN NANOTECHNOLOGY IN FOCUS: PLANT-MEDIATED SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS OF BISMUTH NANOPARTICLES

The green synthesis of bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) using plant extracts presents a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional nanoparticle fabrication methods. Bismuth, a low-toxicity post-transition metal, exhibits unique physicochemical properties suitable for applications in biomedicine, imaging, catalysis, and environmental remediation. Traditional synthesis approaches often involve toxic reagents and energy-intensive processes, whereas green synthesis leverages phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic, terpenoids, and alkaloids as natural reducing and stabilizing agents. This review explores various plant-mediated methods for synthesizing BiNPs, emphasizing how factors like pH, temperature, and reaction time influence nanoparticle morphology and functionality. Analytical techniques including UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and zeta potential analysis are discussed in relation to nanoparticle characterization. The biomedical applications of green-synthesized BiNPs, particularly their antibacterial, anticancer, and imaging potential, are examined alongside their role in photocatalytic degradation of environmental pollutants. While promising, the field faces challenges such as variability in plant extract composition, limited mechanistic understanding, and lack of standardization in synthesis protocols. Addressing these issues is essential for the scalable and reproducible production of BiNPs. This review highlights the current advances and future directions of plant-based BiNP synthesis within the framework of green chemistry.