An improved method for fabrication of Ag-GO nanocomposite with controlled anti-cancer and anti-bacterial behavior; a comparative study

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45332-7

In this study, two green procedures for Silver-Graphene Oxide (Ag-GO) nanocomposite synthesis were investigated. As a common method, AgNO3 was first loaded on the GO surface and then was reduced and stabilized by walnut green husk extract, producing Ag-GO-I. As an innovative approach, GO was first exposed to the extract and then the AgNO3 was added as the second step, producing Ag-GO-Pi. Physicochemical properties, antibacterial and cytotoxicity activity of both nanocomposites were subsequently studied comparing with free silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and pure GO. Based on the results, exposure of GO to the extract, as a reducing agent, at the first/last step of the synthesis process resulted in the fundamental differences in the final products. So that, high amounts of agglomerated silver nanoparticles were formed between the GO sheets, when using the common method, whereas in Ag-GO-Pi, small AgNPs were formed on the GO sheets without aggregation, entirely covering the sheets. Antibacterial and cytotoxic behavior of these nanomaterials could be compared as AgNPs > AgGO-Pi > Ag-GO-I. It is assumed that these differences are due to control of unwanted nucleation in the synthesis process that Ag nanoparticles are smaller with less agglomeration when the GO surfaces are pre-treated with reducing agent.