In vitro cytotoxicity efficacy of phytosynthesized Ag/ZnO nanocomposites using Murraya koenigii and Zingiber officinale extracts

Abstract

Ag/ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized using eco-friendly and low-cost plant extracts of Murraya koenigii and Zingiber officinale. The same nanocomposites along with Ag and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were also synthesized by chemical methodology for comparison purpose. FT IR spectra of the green synthesized Ag/ZnO NCs confirmed the role of biomolecules with the presence of functional groups, and the UV–Vis-DRS spectra showed two absorption bands at ~385 and ~410 nm corresponding to ZnO and AgNPs, respectively. The PL spectra revealed the strong interfacial charge separation behaviour of the synthesized NCs. The XRD patterns consist of wurtzite phase of ZnO and fcc phase of AgNPs. SEM images revealed nanospherical structure of the Ag/ZnO NCs, while EDX and XPS analysis confirmed the presence of Ag, Zn and O elements in the synthesized NCs. TEM images showed quasi-spherical morphology of the synthesized NCs with a particle size found to be in the range between 13 and 18 nm. BET analysis revealed type IV isotherms of the synthesized NCs with porous features. In vitro cytotoxicity efficacy was tested against human cancerous cell lines such as breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), colon (HCT-15) and lung (A549), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with respect to the standard drug cisplatin by MTT assay. Ag/ZnO NCs synthesized using Zingiber officinale extract showed the highest cytotoxicity activity against all the tested cell lines. The study of morphological changes indicated considerable activity in killing the cells by apoptosis, which is a further supported by the ROS generation levels.