Iranian researchers from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences proposed the application of egg white as the size-controlling agent in the production of oxide nanoparticles.This method based on the principles of green chemistry. Already egg white mediated green synthesis of silver nnaoparticles.Now using fresh egg white (EW),they synthesis of size-controlled ceria nanopowders (CeO2-NPs) as an eco-friendly foamy substrate.Cerium oxide nanoparticles have applications in medical issues in the production of cosmetics, including sunburn lotions, and even in the production of catalysts.
Egg white is a natural biomaterial that contains high amount of amino acids and various proteins such as albumin and lysosome. Amino acids have a structure that can play the role of stabilizer and size-controller in the synthesis of nanoparticles.The aim of the group was to synthesize and evaluate the toxicity of cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles through green chemistry method as a safe and novel approach. Non-toxic cerium oxide nanoparticles have been produced through this method with average particle size of about 24 nm.
Pure amino acids are usually expensive. However, egg white has been used directly in this research due to its availability and reasonable price.
Among the other advantages of this method, mention can be made of the lack of the use of hazardous materials and chemicals, production of nanoparticles with homogenous size and high efficiency, and the lack of the use of specific devices and physical conditions and complicated chemical solutions.
