Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Ag-ZnO Nanocomposite Using Aloe-vera, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Plants and Their Antibacterial and Anti-fungi Activities

Abstract

The current study used extracts from the aloe vera (AV) plant and the hibiscus sabdariffa flower to make Ag-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and Ag-ZnO nanocomposites (NCs). Ag/ZnO NCs were compared to Ag NPs and ZnO NPs. They exhibited unique properties against bacteria and fungi that aren't present in either of the individual parts. The Ag-ZnO NCs from AV showed the best performance against E. coli, with an inhibition zone of up to 27 mm, compared to the other samples. The maximum absorbance peaks were observed at 431 nm and 410 nm for Ag NPs, at 374 nm and 377 nm for ZnO NPs and at 384 nm and 391 nm for Ag-ZnO NCs using AV leaf extract and hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, respectively. Using field emission-scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM), the green synthesis of the shown NPs and NCs was found. The Ag NPs particle sizes ranged from 16.99 to 26.39 nm for AV and from 13.11 to 29.50 nm for hibiscus sabdariffa flowers, respectively. The particle size of ZnO NPs ranged from 23.04 to 32.58 nm and from 37.99 to 79.59 nm via AV and hibiscus sabdariffa flowers, respectively. Finally, the particle size of the Ag/ZnO nanocomposite ranged from 22.39–40.05 nm and from 59.73–87.05 nm via the AV and hibiscus sabdariffa flowers, respectively.