green-nanotechnology
Green nanotechnology applies nanoscale materials and processes in environmentally sustainable ways, often leveraging plant-derived compounds to synthesize nanoparticles through biological rather than chemical methods. In plant science, this approach enables researchers to explore how plants can serve as green factories for nanoparticle production, as well as how nano-based formulations can improve agrochemical delivery, enhance stress tolerance, and boost crop performance with reduced ecological impact.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-21
Researchers used leaf extract from the Peruvian pepper tree to create tiny selenium particles that effectively kill drug-resistant staph bacteria and show promise against cancer cells — all without harsh chemicals.
Selenium nanoparticles (50 nm) made from Peruvian pepper tree extract inhibited all 10 drug-resistant staph (MRSA) strains tested, with effective doses of 8–12 μg/mL
Combining the nanoparticles with three common antibiotics produced strong synergy (FICI ≤ 0.5), dramatically lowering the antibiotic doses needed to kill bacteria
The nanoparticles selectively killed cancer cells with minimal toxicity to normal cells, and lab tests confirmed they triggered programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer lines
