Modified Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

In current research, nanocomposite of Graphene Oxide (GO) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and polymer nanocomposite films of GO, PVA, AgNPs and starch were synthesized. Improved Hummer’s method was chosen for the synthesis of GO due to higher yield. AgNPs were synthesized from silver nitrate (AgNO3) by using starch as a green reducing and stabilizing agent. Both AgNO3 and GO were reduced by using starch in one pot synthesis in which GO reduced to rGO and AgNO3 reduced to AgNPs simultaneously and AgNPs were decorated on rGO surface. Further, polymer nanocomposite films were also synthesized containing 4 components including GO, PVA, AgNPs and starch by using same one pot synthesis technique. GO was characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis and elemental analysis. GO-Ag nanocomposite and polymer nanocomposite films were also characterized by using all these techniques and in addition to that, antimicrobial potential was also calculated. Mechanical and thermal studies were also carried out for polymer nanocomposite films. The obtained results confirmed the high oxidation levels and purity in GO. AgNO3 was reduced successfully to AgNPs with mean particle size of 40-60 nm. In simultaneous reduction of GO and AgNO3, rGO decorated with mean AgNPs size of 15-20 nm was formed. The antimicrobial potential of nanocomposite showed enhanced activity as compared to GO and AgNPs alone. Similar results were obtained in case of polymer nanocomposite films. Moreover, the nanocomposite films also showed enhancement in mechanical and thermal properties as well.