A new formulation of Ni/Zn bi-metallic nanocomposite and evaluation of its applications for pollution removal, photocatalytic, electrochemical sensing, and anti-breast cancer

Environ Res. 2023 Sep 15:233:116462. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116462. Epub 2023 Jun 22.

Abstract

Nanocomposites have gained attention due to their variety of applications in different fields. In this research, we have reported a green synthesis of a bi-metallic nanocomposite of nickel and zinc using an aqueous extract of Citrus sinensis in the presence of chitosan (Ni/Zn@orange/chitosan). The nanocomposite was characterized using different techniques. We have examined various applications for Ni/Zn@orange/chitosan. The NPs were manufactured in spherical morphology with a particle range size of 17.34-90.51 nm. Ni/Zn@orange/chitosan showed an acceptable ability to remove dyes of Congo red and methyl orange from an aqueous solution after 80 min furthermore, it uptaking the drug mefenamic acid from a solution. Ni/Zn@orange/chitosan also exhibited great photocatalytic activity in synthesizing benzimidazole using benzyl alcohol and o-phenylenediamine. Ni/Zn@orange/chitosan was found as a potent electrochemical sensor to determine glucose. In the molecular and cellular section of the current research, the cells with composite nanoparticles were studied by MTT way about the anti-breast adenocarcinoma potentials malignant cell lines. The IC50 of composite nanoparticles were 320, 460, 328, 500, 325, 379, 350, and 396 μg/mL concering RBA, NMU, SK-BR-3, CAMA-1, MCF7, AU565, MDA-MB-468, and Hs 281.T breast adenocarcinoma cell lines, respectively. The results revealed the newly synthesized nanocomposite is a potent photocatalyst, dye pollution removal agent, and an acceptable new drug to treat breast cancer.

Keywords: Anti-breast cancer activity; Bi-metallic nanocomposite; Citrus sinensis; Photocatalytic activity; Pollution removal activity.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma*
  • Chitosan* / chemistry
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Nanocomposites* / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Water
  • Zinc

Substances

  • Chitosan
  • Coloring Agents
  • Zinc
  • Water