Co-doped ZnO nanowires: Synthesis, photocatalytic performance, and cytotoxic activity against human brain glioblastoma cells

Abstract

In this paper, we introduced a green method for the preparation of pure and 1, 3, 7, and 10 % cobalt doped zinc oxide (Co-doped ZnO) Nanowires through the application of Salvadora persica aqueous extract. The synthesis of nanorods was confirmed by the results of PXRD, UV–vis, FESEM, EDX, and Raman analyses. The existence of well doped cobalt within the structure of zinc oxide was affirmed by the results of PXRD, EDX, and UV–vis. The FESEM analysis displayed the length and diameter of pure ZnO Nanowires to be 500 ± 0.2 nm and 25 ± 5 nm, while an enlargement was observed in the length and diameter of doped Nanowires due to the doping of cobalt into ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized samples indicated the culmination of doped cobalt into ZnO in increasing the rate of photocatalyst performance. The optimum sample was 1 % Co-doped ZnO Nanowires that eliminated 89 % of MB with a concentration of 20 mg/Lit in pH = 7. The toxicity effect of synthesized Nanowires on brain glioblastoma cells (U87) was investigated by the means of WST-1 test. Accordingly, the doped ZnO Nanowires induced a more toxic impact on U87 cells when compared to the case of pure zinc oxide Nanowires. Thus, performing a doping process on the nanostructure of ZnO led to increasing its inhibitory effect against U87 cells and intensifying its photocatalytic activity on MB dye.