Impact of Ag/ZnO Reinforcements on the Anticancer and Biological Performances of CA@Ag/ZnO Nanocomposite Materials

Abstract

In this study, an unpretentious, non-toxic, and cost-effective dissolution casting method was utilized to synthesize a group of anticancer and biologically active hybrid nanocomposite materials containing biopolymer cellulose acetate. Pristine ZnO and Ag(0.01, 0.05, 0.1)/ZnO hybrid nanofillers based on variable Ag NP loadings were prepared via green procedures in the presence of gum arabic (GA). The chemical structures and the morphological features of the designed nanocomposite materials were investigated by PXRD, TEM, SEM, FTIR, TGA, and XPS characterization techniques. The characterization techniques confirmed the formation of CA@Ag(0.01, 0.05, 0.1)/ZnO hybrid nanocomposite materials with an average crystallite size of 15 nm. All investigated materials showed two degradation steps. The thermal stability of the fabricated samples was ranked in the following order: CA/ZnO