Green synthesis of strontium-reduced graphene oxide biocomposite using gamma radiation

This study presents an environmentally benign approach for synthesizing of strontium nanoparticles-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO-Sr) nanosheets using a simple method. Reduced graphene oxide sheets decorated with strontium nanoparticles (rGO-Sr) were used in previous studies in polymer matrices to prepare 3D scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. Graphene oxide is reduced and strontium nanoparticles have been successfully deposited on it using gamma radiation at room temperature. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analysis assured the formation of strontium nanoparticles (Sr NPs) of 50 nm in size on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. The formed Sr NPs were homogeneously and uniformly distributed on rGO nanosheets forming rGO-Sr nanocomposite. The prepared materials' blood biocompatibility and antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus were studied. The results revealed that the decoration of rGO sheets with strontium nanoparticles offered a significant increase in its antibacterial activity and exhibited good blood biocompatibility. This study shows that graphene-based composite prepared using Sr NPs seems to be a promising antibacterial coating material for biomedical applications. •Synthesis of SrNPs on rGO sheets using gamma radiation as a green method.•The rGO nanosheet and rGO/Sr nanocomposite were characterized.•The rGO/Sr nanocomposite exhibited a good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.•The rGO/Sr nanocomposite has a good hemocompatibility.