Impact of magnesium
addition in zinc oxide matrix for enhanced structural, optical, antimicrobial and
anticancer properties
Thiruchelvi M., Senthamilselvi M.M. and Venkatraman B.R.
Res. J. Chem. Environ; Vol. 26(7); 28-36;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2607rjce028036; (2022)
Abstract
In the present work, low cost, high efficiency and multifunctional inorganic biocidal
(antibacterial and anticancer) materials such as ZnO, MgO and MgZnO nanocomposites
(NCs) have been developed with a facile precipitation process. XRD studies confirmed
that the prepared NCs exhibit hexagonal, face-centered cubic and hexagonal structures
respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed spherical shaped
ZnO, MgO and MgZnO NCs. The elemental (Zn, Mg and O) compositions of the prepared
NMs were identified using EDAX spectra. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the
prepared NMs revealed oxygen vacancies at 487 nm, 500 nm and 524 nm respectively.
They correspond to the active free radicals (OH, O2 and H2O2) production and these
results were responsible for their biocidal activities.
Furthermore, the biocidal effects of the MgZnO NCs were studied on the human breast
cancer cell line and microbes. The cell viability studies proved that MgZnO NCs
possess higher anticancer properties than ZnO and MgO NMs. Overall results displayed
that the MgZnO NCs exposed better biocidal effects than ZnO and MgO NMs which can
be used for biomedical and industrial applications to improve human health conditions.
