Introduction: The growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable approaches in nanotechnology has highlighted plant extracts as versatile and renewable resources for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel, an agro-industrial byproduct, is particularly well suited for this purpose due to its high content of bioactive compounds, such as punicalagin, ellagic acid, and flavonoids, which exhibit potent antioxidant activity. These phytochemicals not only scavenge free radicals but also play a crucial role as reducing and stabilizing agents in the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles. This study investigates the potential of pomegranate peel extract from the "Mollar de Elche" variety for the synthesis of sustainable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and emphasizes the influence of its bioactive compounds on nanoparticle properties.
Methods: Pomegranate extract was obtained from pomegranate peels. A Box–Behnken Design (BBD) programmed in Python was employed to optimize key synthesis parameters such as silver nitrate concentration, extract concentration, and temperature, while minimizing experimental trials. The optimized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and FESEM, and their antibacterial activity was evaluated.
Results: The optimization process revealed significant interactions between the responses, including hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. Characterization of the AgNPs confirmed the successful reduction and capping of silver ions by pomegranate-derived compounds. Antibacterial assays revealed strong activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the AgNPs were incorporated into nanofibrous scaffolds as a proof of concept for future applications, and their antibacterial activity was partially retained post-incorporation.
Conclusion: This work highlights the versatility of pomegranate peel extract as a sustainable and multifunctional medium for nanoparticle synthesis, driven by its rich composition of antioxidant compounds. Furthermore, it demonstrates how integrating computational tools like BBD with green chemistry principles can efficiently optimize complex processes, paving the way for industrial and biomedical applications.
