Environmental applications of silver nanoparticles: state-of-the-art review and emerging trends

• Soni Prajapati,
• Akash Kumar and
• Ranjana Singh

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 697–736, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.49

• develop LSPR-based nanosensors that detect different metal ions [7]. A surface coating of ʟ-carnosine on nanosilver enables size tuning and the detection of metal ions such as As3+, Cr3+, Cd2+, and Pb2+, while cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) coating provides selectivity against Hg2+ and Cu2+ [8][9

• ]. In addition, CTAB- and ʟ-carnosine-capped AgNPs exhibit catalytic activity in the removal of p-nitrophenol [8][9]. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA; Permissible Exposure Limits, 29 CFR 1910.1000), arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, beryllium, and mercury are the

• prevent aggregation [36]. The capping agents can be polymers, surfactants, and small and large biomolecules, providing colloidal nanoregime stability [37]. The size-controlled synthesis of AgNPs capped with ʟ-carnosine was developed for metal ion detection and nitrophenol removal [8]. Another study

Facile synthesis of size-tunable L-carnosine-capped silver nanoparticles and their role in metal ion sensing and catalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol

• Akash Kumar,
• Ridhima Chadha,
• Abhishek Das,
• Nandita Maiti and
• Rayavarapu Raja Gopal

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1576–1592, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.124

• /bjnano.15.124 Abstract ʟ-Carnosine is a dipeptide with notable antioxidant, antiglycation, metal chelating, and neuroprotective properties. Despite its many biological roles, applying ʟ-carnosine as a capping agent in nanoparticle synthesis has remained underexplored. This study explores the potential of

• ʟ-carnosine in synthesizing tunable plasmonic silver nanoparticles (ʟ-car-AgNPs). The formation of ʟ-car-AgNPs was confirmed via UV–vis optical absorption spectroscopy, showing single and double plasmonic peaks, depending on the synthesis conditions. Physicochemical characterization using TEM, FTIR

• with various contaminants. Keywords: catalysis; heavy metals; ʟ-carnosine; p-nitrophenol; silver nanoparticles; Introduction The persistent rise in environmental pollution, notably from heavy metal ions and organic pollutants, has propelled the development of innovative and efficient environmental