Green-synthesized MgO nanoparticles from Gracilaria folifera: Electrochemical and antidiabetic study

Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles are attractive materials for biomedical and electrochemical applications due to their defect-rich structure and high surface reactivity. In this study, MgO nanoparticles were synthesized using a green sol-gel method with Gracilaria folifera extract (GF-MgO) acting as a natural reducing and capping agent. Structural analysis confirmed the formation of phase-pure cubic MgO with nanoscale crystallite size. Spectroscopic studies revealed successful biofunctionalization and the presence of oxygen vacancies induced by algal biomolecules. Electrochemical investigations demonstrated quasi-reversible redox behavior with enhanced charge transfer properties. The biofunctionalized GF-MgO nanoparticles exhibited improved antidiabetic activity, showing lower IC₅₀ values for α-amylase (37.06 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (48.91 µg/mL) compared to pure MgO. The enhanced performance is attributed to synergistic interactions between MgO defect sites and Gracilaria folifera phytochemicals. This work highlights a simple and eco-friendly strategy for producing biofunctional MgO nanoparticles with improved electrochemical and therapeutic potential. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing defect-engineered, biofunctional MgO nanoparticles using Gracilaria folifera, demonstrating the synergistic role of algal biomolecules in enhancing electrochemical performance and antidiabetic activity.