Exploring the Photocatalytic and Cytotoxic Potential of Quassia indica-Derived Bimetallic Silver-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites

In response to the escalating need for nanomaterials characterized by enhanced properties and reduced environmental impact, this study addresses critical challenges associated with conventional nanomaterial synthesis methods, particularly focusing on concerns related to environmental toxicity and economic feasibility. In this study, we report the eco-friendly synthesis of silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites using leaf extracts of Quassia indica (QI- Ag: ZnO NC). The synthesized QI- Ag: ZnO nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques including UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED). The photocatalytic activity of the biosynthesized QI- Ag: ZnO NC was evaluated against several textile dyes. Reactive Blue-220 exhibited the highest percentage of degradation (99.97%), closely followed by Reactive Blue-222 (99.37%), while Reactive Red-120 displayed significant degradation (94.62%). Remarkably, these nanocomposites exhibited significant photocatalytic degradation of the tested dyes, suggesting their potential application in wastewater treatment for dye removal. Furthermore, phytotoxicity studies were conducted to assess the impact of the nanocomposites on plant growth and brine shrimp mortality. To evaluate their cytotoxicity, the nanocomposites synthesized were assessed using the MTT assay on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. These findings suggest that QI- Ag: ZnO NCs have promising applications in environmental remediation and cancer therapy, opening avenues for further advancements in the arena of nanomaterial synthesis and utilization.