Morinda citrifolia leaf assisted synthesis of ZnO decorated Ag bio-nanocomposites for in-vitro cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and anticancer applications

• Main Authors: Venkatraman, Gopinath, Mohan, Priyadarshini Sakthi, Abdul-Rahman, Puteri Shafinaz, Sonsudin, Faridah, Muttiah, Barathan, Hirad, Abdurahman Hajinur, Alarfaj, Abdullah A., Wang, Shifa
• Format: Article
• Published: Springer 2024
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QD Chemistry; R Medicine (General); RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/47012/; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-024-02995-5

This study used Morinda citrifolia leaf (MCL) extract to synthesise Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and ZnO decorated silver nanocomposites (ZnO/Ag NCs). The synthesized nanomaterials structural morphology and crystallinity were characterized using a Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs and ZnO/Ag NCs was evaluated using human nosocomial bacterial pathogens. The highest antimicrobial activity was recorded for ZnO/Ag NCs at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 80 and 100 mu g/mL for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus than ZnO NPs at the MIC of 120 and 140 mu g/mL for Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, ROS detection, viability assay and bacterial membrane integrity analysis of ZnO/Ag NCs treated P. aeruginosa and S. aureus revealed the fundamental bactericidal mechanism involving cell wall, cell membrane interaction and release of cytoplasmic contents. In addition, ZnO/Ag NCs and ZnO NPs showed higher toxicity towards A549 lung cancer cells than the non-cancerous RAW264 macrophage cells, with IC50 of 242 and 398 mu g/mL respectively, compared to IC50 of 402 and 494 mu g/mL for the macrophage cells. These results suggest that the ZnO/Ag NCs can be effectively used to develop antimicrobial and anticancer materials.