@article {50005, title = {Green synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles using pomegranate peel extract for inhibition of calcium oxalate crystals and uropathogenic bacteria}, journal = {BioNanoScience}, volume = {15}, year = {2025}, month = {AUG}, pages = {article number 500}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

This study explores the therapeutic potential of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and its gold nanoparticle conjugate (PPE-AuNP) in the prevention and treatment of urolithiasis. Pomegranate peels collected from four agro-climatic zones of India exhibited consistent methanolic extract yields (10{\textendash}17\%) and total phenolic content, with the highest levels observed in the West zone. Green synthesis of PPE-AuNPs was confirmed through UV{\textendash}Vis spectroscopy (λmax = 522\ nm), DLS (38.2 {\textpm} 2.1\ nm), zeta potential (-33.66 {\textpm} 2.97\ mV), and TEM imaging, which showed uniform spherical nanoparticles. Characterization confirmed that PPE-AuNPs were crystalline and phytochemically capped. FTIR shifts in O{\textendash}H, C = O, and C{\textendash}O bands, along with a ~ 500\ cm-1\ Au{\textendash}O/N vibration, confirmed phytochemical-mediated reduction and stabilization. XRD revealed an FCC structure with a dominant (111) plane, indicating high crystallinity. The synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 21.53\ {\textmu}g/mL, superior to PPE and AuNP alone. In vitro calcium oxalate crystallization assays revealed significant crystal inhibition by PPE-AuNPs, confirmed via E-SEM, EDAX, and XRD analyses. Antibacterial studies against\ E. coli,\ K. pneumoniae,\ S. aureus, and uropathogenic\ E. coli\ showed MIC values of 31.25{\textendash}62.5\ {\textmu}g/mL for PPE and PPE-AuNPs, with negligible activity from AuNP alone. In vivo studies in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiatic rats revealed significant improvement in urinary parameters, renal biochemistry (creatinine, urea, SGPT, SGOT), hematological markers, and histopathology, especially in the PPE-AuNP-treated group. PPE-AuNP treatment normalized urinary appearance, reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and restored renal architecture with minimal degeneration. The enhanced therapeutic effects of PPE-AuNPs are attributed to their bioactive phenolic surface ligands and colloidal stability. Overall, this study demonstrates the synergistic efficacy of PPE-AuNPs as a potent, green nanotherapeutic agent for urolithiasis, offering antioxidant, antibacterial, and nephroprotective effects with promising translational relevance.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-025-02194-w}, author = {Mundhewadikar, Dhananjay M. and Bhalerao, Minal R. and Vairale, Shiva and Sabir, Safiya and Mote, Chandrashekhar and Chowdhury, Chiranjit and Agawane, Sachin B.} }