Phyto-reflexive Zinc Oxide Nano-Flowers synthesis: An advanced photocatalytic degradation and infectious therapy

• Main Authors: Muhammad Saqib Saif, Ayesha Zafar, Muhammad Waqas, Shahbaz Gul Hassan, Ain ul Haq, Tuba Tariq, Sana Batool, Momina Dilshad, Murtaza Hasan, Xugang Shu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-07-01
• Series: Journal of Materials Research and Technology
• Subjects: Green synthesis; Nano-flower; Antimicrobial activities; Photocatalytic; Withania
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785421005470

Combating the limitations of chemical approach, a Phyto-reflexive surface decorated ZnO nanoparticles were synthesis for enhanced activity against resistant infectious agent and toxic dyes. Flower-like ZnO nanostructure with average size of 30 nm and 25 nm using chemical method and Phyto-synthesised respectively. Prepared ZnO nano-flowers have been characterised by UV (UV–visible spectrometry), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), HRTEM (High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy) and EDS (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy). Anti-bacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, exhibited 78%, 88% inhibition for chemical prepared ZnO NFs and Phyto-reflexive surface modified ZnO NFs exhibited 85%, 94% compared to Ciprofloxacin. MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) values against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa of biological ZnO NFs, were calculated as 62.5 and 125 ug/ml and 125 and 250 ug/ml for chemically synthesized ZnO NFs respectively. Anti-fungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida Albicans showed 78%, 80% activity with chemically ZnO NFs and 91%, 100% inhibition with biologically ZnO NFs. Anti-oxidant potential determination revealed 56.5% and 67.8% activity at 50 mg/mL with chemical and biological ZnO NF respectively. Furthermore, Degradation of methylene blue (MB) using ZnO NFs up to 78% using chemically prepared and 90% using Phyto-reflexive ZnO NFs. Thus, the comparative analysis concluded, Phyto-reflexive surface modified synthesis of ZnO NFs improved infections activity against pathogens and photocatalytic activity for hazardous chemicals.