Green synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles using aqueous extract of the bark of Ficus religiosa and investigation of their role in antibacterial activity

In this comprehensive study, the synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) was meticulously performed utilizing Ficus religiosa’s aqueous bark extract, commonly known as the Peepal tree. Employing a green approach, the resulting nanoparticles displayed a distinctive green hue, which was discerned through a series of advanced analytical techniques including TEM (Transmission electron microscopy), UV–visible spectroscopy, XRD (X-ray diffraction), AFM (Atomic force microscopy), SEM–EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy- Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry), and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The characterization revealed that the greenly synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles exhibited a diverse range of sizes and shapes, further highlighting the effectiveness of the eco-friendly synthesis approach. Subsequently, the antibacterial characteristics of these nanoparticles were rigorously evaluated against both Gram-negative & Gram-positive bacteria using the agar disc diffusion method. Notably, a pronounced zone of inhibition was observed against E. coli (Gram-negative bacteria) compared to S. aureus (Gram-positive bacteria), suggesting a potential variation in antibacterial efficacy against different bacterial strains. Overall, this study represents a pioneering effort in the field, emphasizing the utilization of a green synthesis approach for the precise preparation of TiO₂ nanoparticles from Ficus religiosa bark extract, while concurrently investigating their antibacterial activity, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of eco-friendly nanoparticle synthesis methodologies.