Multifunctional molybdenum disulfide nanomaterials for antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and photocatalytic tetracycline degradation applications

Abstract

The article discusses the synthesis and characterizations of hexagonal molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets (NSs) using hydrothermal method, as well as their antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and photocatalytic activities. Various analytical techniques including XRD, HRTEM, FESEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, and DLS have been employed to characterizations. In terms of antioxidant activity, MoS₂ exhibited significant scavenging effects against various radicals including DPPH, hydroxyl, nitric oxide, hypochlorous, superoxide anion, peroxynitrite, and inhibited lipid peroxidation. It has been revealed that MoS₂ and ascorbic acid (standard antioxidant) are almost equally capable to inhibit lipid peroxidation and scavenge DPPH and hydroxyl free radicals, superoxide anion, hypochlorous acid, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite. In HCT 116 cells, MoS₂ has been demonstrated to decrease cell viability at an IC₅₀ concentration of 18.49 μg/ml. MoS₂ increases the ROS production and altered the levels of GSH and GSSG in HCT 116 cells. The decrease in cell viability for normal FHC cells was notably less severe compared to cancerous HCT 116 cells, indicating selective cytotoxicity. Paramount antibacterial activity of MoS₂ NSs towards both Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria has been established. Overall, the findings suggest that MoS₂ possesses notable anticancer capabilities along with strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The MoS₂ NSs exhibit good photocatalysts for tetracycline (TC) degradation. The maximum 71 % degradation has been achieved within 50 min under visible irradiation. The synthesized catalyst exhibited stable performance over three reuse cycles, with post-reaction XRD analysis confirming the structural integrity of MoS₂.