Abstract: Tellurium nanowires synthesized using green chemistry methods and having unique morphologies and functional properties are provided. The nanowires have a core of hexagonal crystal phase tellurium and a polymer coating, and can be used for treating cancer without apparent cytotoxicity toward normal human cells.

Abstract: Methods disclosed herein provide for an environmentally-friendly approach that employ citric extracts from fruits as unique reducing and stabilizing agents for making a tellurium nanomaterial. A particular method of making a tellurium nanomaterial includes combining citrus fruit extract with a tellurium salt to form a mixture of citrus fruit extract and dissolved tellurium salt; and heating the mixture of citrus fruit extract and dissolved tellurium salt, thereby making the tellurium nanomaterial. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit enhanced and desirable biomedical properties toward treatment of both infectious diseases and cancer.

Abstract: Green-synthesized tellurium nanowires (GREEN-TeNWs) are generated using a biopolymer as a unique reducing agent, purified, and used as a template for the growth of coated palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) on top of the GREEN-TeNWs, in a reaction that can take place in seconds, with no need for high temperature, stirring, or for additional reducing agent. The heterogeneous structure can contain palladium oxide or platinum oxide. The green-synthesized PdNPs-TeNWs (palladium nanoparticles with tellurium nanowires) and PtNPs-TeNWs (platinum nanoparticles with tellurium nanowires) show potential biomedical applications as antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant agents, and show low cytotoxicity for healthy human cells.

Abstract: Tellurium (Te) nanostructures are synthesized using green aloe vera chemistry methods, and the synthesized Te tructures provide methods of inhibiting bacterial cells and cancer cells without cytotoxicity towards normal cells. The aloe vera chemistry methods for synthesizing Te nanostructures do not produce toxic byproducts and do not require toxic reagents in comparison to traditional chemical synthetic methods for making Te nanostructures.

Abstract: Methods disclosed herein provide for an environmentally-friendly approach that employ citric extracts from fruits as unique reducing and stabilizing agents for making a tellurium nanomaterial. A particular method of making a tellurium nanomaterial includes combining citrus fruit extract with a tellurium salt to form a mixture of citrus fruit extract and dissolved tellurium salt; and heating the mixture of citrus fruit extract and dissolved tellurium salt, thereby making the tellurium nanomaterial. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit enhanced and desirable biomedical properties toward treatment of both infectious diseases and cancer.

Abstract: Tellurium nanowires synthesized using green chemistry methods and having unique morphologies and functional properties are provided. The nanowires have a core of hexagonal crystal phase tellurium and a polymer coating, and can be used for treating cancer without apparent cytotoxicity toward normal human cells.