Sustainable Applications of Multifunctional Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

Sustainable Applications of Multifunctional Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis, characterization, and diverse applications of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials. The book first introduces fundamental concepts related to metal and metal oxide nanomaterials, including their synthesis through green methods and the unique physicochemical properties that emerge at the nanoscale. Following chapters review their applications in sustainable technologies, focusing on healthcare and the food industry, including topics such as antimicrobial resistance, biodegradable drug delivery systems, biosensing, and food packaging. The book also discusses agricultural and environmental applications, highlighting improvements in crop production, pest control, and water purification.

Advanced materials, such as hybrid nanomaterials combining metal and metal oxides are discussed in the context of sustainability and their integration into IoT and smart technologies. Finally, the book explores the environmental and societal impacts of these nanomaterials, including their roles in energy, sustainable construction, and the circular bioeconomy, while addressing important toxicity considerations. This book is a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, and industry professionals who are interested in the field of nanotechnology and its applications.

• Presents a detailed introduction to the synthesis and characterization of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials, with a focus on green synthesis methods
• Highlights sustainable applications of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials across various industries, from healthcare to food packaging and biosensing
• Reviews environmental impacts, with a chapter dedicated to the circular bioeconomy

Mahendra Rai is an internationally recognized scholar with extensive contributions to microbial biotechnology and nanobiotechnology research, particularly in the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using fungi and their application as nano‑antimicrobials. His work is highly interdisciplinary, bridging microbiology, biotechnology, and nanoscience, and he is an active member of several scientific societies. He has received multiple national and international distinctions, including the Father T.A. Mathias Award from the All-India Association for Christian Higher Education and the Medini Award from the Government of India. Professor Rai has also held numerous visiting scientist and visiting professor positions across Europe, South America, and Asia, contributing to long‑standing research collaborations in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and the United States. His sustained academic impact is reflected in his inclusion among the global top 2% of scientists in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and recognition as one of India’s leading researchers in biology and biochemistry, including a Biology and Biochemistry India Leader Award from Research.com.

Prof. José Milton Elias de Matos is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Materials Postgraduate Programs at the Federal University of Piauí, Brazil. His research group primarily focuses on the green synthesis of polymers derived from vegetable oils, the creation of heterojunctions with nanoparticles, particularly metal nanoparticles, and their use as nanoantimicrobials to combat pathogenic microbes and remediate water contaminated by textile dyes and pharmaceutical residues. His research is highly interdisciplinary, combining natural polymers and metal oxides with nanotechnology.

Dr. Aniket K. Gade is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology at the Institute of Chemical Technology, India. He is currently a Visiting Scientist under the OLONES-BIS Fellowship at the Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland. Dr. Gade completed his postdoctoral research in the Biology Department at Utah State University, USA, under the guidance of Prof. Anne Anderson. In 2011, he visited the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Campinas, Brazil. His research primarily focuses on bioinformatics, bionanotechnology, and molecular biology.