Assessment of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles, Graphene and Graphene decorated by Zinc Oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and graphene carbon material, due to lower drug resistance, can replace antibiotics, and by decorating of graphene with Zn-NPs, their properties can be greatly improved. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of ZnO-NPs biosynthesized using Crocus Sativus petal extract, graphene and graphene decorated by ZnO-NPs biosynthesized using Crocus Sativus petal extract (G-ZnO). Their physicochemical characterizations were performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), revealing that ZnO-NPs with a mean size of 25 nm and spherical-shape were distributed uniformly on the surface of the graphene without aggregation. The antioxidant activities of ZnO-NPs, graphene and G-ZnO were evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays. Antibacterial activities of three compounds were tested against Gram negative bacteria <em>Escherichia coli (E. coli) </em>and Gram positive bacteria <em>Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)</em> using macrodilution method. The results of this study showed that these three compounds have antioxidant and antibacterial effects. And it was show that but also antioxidant and antibacterial activity of G-ZnO was higher than ZnO-NPs and graphene. G-ZnO could be useful as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial in the pharmacy industry.