Applied Chemical Engineering

Green-synthesized MgO nanoparticles from Gracilaria folifera: Electrochemical and antidiabetic study

M. Adhithi

Department of Physics, Vellalar College for Women (Autonomous), Erode 638012, Tamil Nadu, India

M. Yogeswari

Department of Physics, Vellalar College for Women (Autonomous), Erode 638012, Tamil Nadu, India

S. Sivakumar

Department of Physics, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem 636007, Tamilnadu, India

P. Sangeetha

Department of Physics, Sona College of Technology, Salem 636005, Tamil Nadu, India

M. Ehthishamul Haque

Department of Physics, Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Tirupattur 635601, Tamil Nadu, India

B. Sangeetha

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, AVS Engineering College, Salem 636003, Tamilnadu, India

K Dhanalakshmi

Department of Applied Sciences, New Horizon College of Engineering, Bengaluru 560103, Karnataka, India

B. Esther Bharathi

Department of Physics, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem 636007, Tamilnadu, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i2.5909

Keywords: MgO nanoparticles; Gracilaria folifera; green synthesis; biofunctionalization; defect engineering; oxygen vacancies; electrochemical behavior; antidiabetic activity

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Abstract

Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles are attractive materials for biomedical and electrochemical applications due to their defect-rich structure and high surface reactivity. In this study, MgO nanoparticles were synthesized using a green sol-gel method with Gracilaria folifera extract (GF-MgO) acting as a natural reducing and capping agent. Structural analysis confirmed the formation of phase-pure cubic MgO with nanoscale crystallite size. Spectroscopic studies revealed successful biofunctionalization and the presence of oxygen vacancies induced by algal biomolecules. Electrochemical investigations demonstrated quasi-reversible redox behavior with enhanced charge transfer properties. The biofunctionalized GF-MgO nanoparticles exhibited improved antidiabetic activity, showing lower IC₅₀ values for α-amylase (37.06 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (48.91 µg/mL) compared to pure MgO. The enhanced performance is attributed to synergistic interactions between MgO defect sites and Gracilaria folifera phytochemicals. This work highlights a simple and eco-friendly strategy for producing biofunctional MgO nanoparticles with improved electrochemical and therapeutic potential. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing defect-engineered, biofunctional MgO nanoparticles using Gracilaria folifera, demonstrating the synergistic role of algal biomolecules in enhancing electrochemical performance and antidiabetic activity.

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