Muhammad Haseeb Ullah1, Azka Azhar1, Tahir Maqbool1, Ali Hamza1, Ubaid Ullah Khan1, Pakeeza Aslam1, Barroj Malik1, Erum Mubarak1, Anam Ghafoor1, Mateen Shaukat2, Ghulam Rasool 1*, Abdul Wahab1* and Abdul Razzaq 1,3*
1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; 2Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lahore, Raiwind Road, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China
*Corresponding author: ghulam.rasool@imbb.uol.edu.pk (GR); wahabgul777@gmail.com (AW); bioformanite
Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) have emerged as promising agents in healthcare due to their diverse applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cancer therapy. In this study, we developed an eco-friendly, cost-effective method for the biosynthesis of SiNPs using banana peel extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Banana peels are rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, carotenoids, essential amino acids, dietary fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids, which contribute to nanoparticle formation and stability. The synthesized SiNPs were characterized using a suite of analytical techniques, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet–Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. UV-Vis analysis confirmed the stability and successful formation of SiNPs. The biomedical relevance of these nanoparticles was further explored in the context of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive and prevalent primary brain tumors. Due to their multifunctional capabilities in targeted drug delivery, imaging, and thermal ablation, SiNPs hold significant potential for improving GBM treatment. Moreover, the study highlights elevated p53 expression in glioma tissues, supporting its role as a therapeutic target. This green synthesis approach using banana peels not only provides a sustainable route to nanoparticle production but also offers a novel platform for developing nanotherapeutics against complex diseases such as glioblastoma.