Synergistic effects of nanosized supramolecular complex inlaid with silver nanoparticles: Catalysis, sensors, and biological activities

Abstract

Nanosized supramolecular complex (SC), {[Cu 2 (CN) 3 (phen) 3 ]5H 2 O}, 1, inlaid with silver nanoparticles was synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of Ag/SC1 nanocomposite as heterogeneous catalysts against methylene blue (MB) dye exhibits phenomenal degradation efficiency in presence of H 2 O 2 under different conditions better than the nanosized SC1. Scavenger techniques proved that • OH radicals represent the main oxidant species for the mineralization of hazardous dyes. The photoluminescence property of Ag/SC1 nanocomposite demonstrates its remarkable ability to act as a high-performance luminescent sensor towards nitrobenzene, Fe 3+ , Hg 2+ , and Sn 2+ ions. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell viable activity of Ag/SC1 nanocomposite against a set of different human cancer cell lines shows that the highest level was recorded against hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG-2) cells. DNA binding ability of Ag/SC1 nanocomposite signifies that the composite has weak DNA binding activity. Antioxidant activity demonstrates that Ag/SC1 nanocomposite exhibits weak activity towards scavenging behavior of ABTS •+ and good anti-hemolytic activity of red blood cells comparing with ascorbic acid. The antimicrobial activity of Ag/SC1 nanocomposite against some bacterial strains offered better antibacterial properties than the nanosized SC1.