In vitro study of antibacterial and anticancer activities of biosynthesized Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles from Anisochilus Carnosus, Nephelium Lappaceum, Calotropis Gigantea

Abstract

As nanoparticles exhibit various noticeable properties, showing outstanding results in nanomedicine and environmental-related problems, especially in therapeutic systems such as drug carriers for targeting the sites, etc. In this work, Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via the bio-extraction method using three different plants, namely Calotropis gigantea, Nephelium lappaceum, and Anisochilus carnosus. The obtained samples were mentioned as S1, S2, and S3, respectively, and the comparison of these samples was studied. The prepared samples were further examined for their structural, morphological, and functional group studies using XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, BET, FTIR, FT-Raman, UV, Zeta potential, and photoluminescence spectra. The results showed that the nanoparticles were highly crystalline, with a particle size ranging between 15 and 20 nm. TEM-SEM images confirmed the hexagonal, clustered, and flowered shape of the particles, with a UV absorption peak between 350 and 390 nm. The surface area of the particles in the range of 65–77 m2 g-1 with less porosity was confirmed by BET results, and the stability of the nanoparticles was confirmed by Zeta potential. Further antibacterial and anticancer activity was investigated, in which the IC50 value for a colon [HT-29] cancer cell was found to be 44.5µg/ml (S1), 39.14µg/ml (S2), and 21.81µg/ml (S3); hence, sample S3 showed higher potential cytotoxicity than the other two samples. Thus, Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by Anisochilus Carnosus can be considered a strong anticancer agent compared to the other two samples.