Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Researchers Develop Nanoparticles from Sugarcane Bagasse for Effective Quercetin Delivery

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the National Institute of Technology Durgapur have made a significant breakthrough in nanotechnology by developing nanoparticles from sugarcane bagasse for effective quercetin delivery. The study, published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, employs a bacterial strain to delignify sugarcane bagasse, producing nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery. This innovative biorefinery strategy has the potential to improve agricultural waste management and promote a circular bioeconomy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers used a bacterial strain, Ectopseudomonas mendocina NITDDGIFE11, to delignify sugarcane bagasse via batch-submerged fermentation, resulting in the production of lignin and cellulose nanoparticles.
  • The nanoparticles were characterized using FESEM, XRD, and FTIR, and were found to have sizes averaging 279.4 nm and 207.25 nm via DLS and validated by HRTEM.
  • The research concluded that the extracted biopolymers can be transformed into their respective lignin (LNP) and cellulose (CNP) nanoparticles, which can be used for effective quercetin delivery.
  • The study highlights the potential of this technology for agricultural waste management and the promotion of a circular bioeconomy.
  • The researchers involved in this study include Gaurav Singh, Abhishek Verma, Ankit Srivastava, Subash Chandra Gupta, Tamal Mandal, and Dalia Dasgupta Mandal.
  • The study has been peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

Statistics:

  • The average size of the lignin nanoparticles (LNP) was found to be 279.4 nm via DLS.
  • The average size of the cellulose nanoparticles (CNP) was found to be 207.25 nm via DLS.
  • The study employed a bacterial strain, Ectopseudomonas mendocina NITDDGIFE11, to delignify sugarcane bagasse via batch-submerged fermentation.

Sources:

  • International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025;330:148080
  • Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • NewsRx, "Investigators at National Institute of Technology Durgapur Target Nanoparticles," Cancer Weekly, October 21, 2025; p 1112.