Synthesis and characterization of Ag-decorated ZnO/MgO nanocomposite using a novel phyto-assisted biomimetic approach for anti-microbial and anti-biofilm applications

Abstract

The synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts presents an innovative alternative to traditional chemical or physical methods. Natural nanoparticle synthesis using plant extracts has several advantages over traditional methods, including less reliance on synthetic chemicals, a reduced environmental impact, the potential to synthesize unique nanoparticle characteristics, and the production of biocompatible and biodegradable materials. This strategy is a sustainable and effective alternative. The antimicrobial activity of Ag-decorated ZnO/MgO from the leaves extract of Polygonum chinensis has been demonstrated in the present work. UV–vis, XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDX were used to assess the bio-synthesized nanocomposite after the effective synthesis of Ag-decorated ZnO/MgO nanocomposite. The UV spectrum of the synthesized Ag-decorated ZnO/MgO nanocomposite showed a peak at 225 nm, with a band gap energy of 4.30 eV. The nanocomposite was confirmed with irregular flakes-like structure with range in size from 70 to 150 nm using SEM analysis. Standardized tests used in antimicrobial analysis were used to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Ag-decorated ZnO/MgO nanocomposite against various microorganisms. Biofilm inhibition studies confirmed the nanocomposite’s inhibitory effect on various bacteria. The findings indicated that Ag-decorated ZnO/MgO nanocomposite is a promising antimicrobial and antifilm agent.