Chitosanylated MoO₃-Ruthenium(II) Nanocomposite as Biocompatible Probe for Bioimaging and Herbaceutical Detection

Hybrid nanomaterials with inherent physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility are beneficial for healthcare utilities. This paper demonstrates the hybridization of transition-metal oxide (molybdenum trioxide, MoO₃), optoelectrochemically active dye complex (Ru(II)), and biopolymer (chitosan, CS) into a single nanosystem. The asafetida-resin-mediated green synthesis of MoO₃ nanoparticles (g-MoO₃ NPs) enabled chemical adsorption of Ru(II) and CS. Optical imaging functionality of pristine g-MoO₃, g-MoO₃-Ru(II), and g-MoO₃-Ru(II)/CS has been evaluated using Caenorhabditis elegans, as an in vivo animal model, at an excitation wavelength of 450 nm and observed emission of ∼600 nm. The localization of chitosan on the surface of g-MoO₃-Ru(II) exhibits cytocompatibility promising for intracellular imaging. The intracellular antioxidant properties of the g-MoO₃-Ru(II)/CS nanocomposite are more profound than pristine NPs as assessed by measuring reactive oxygen species and protein carbonyls against the standard drug resveratrol. The electrochemical transducing ability of the hybrid g-MoO₃-Ru(II) nanocomposite has been tested using butein, as a model herbaceutical, with nanomolar precision (50-1250 nM). The triad composite of metal oxide, dye, and biopolymer enabled synergistic properties that are suitable for multifunctional application in intracellular imaging, antioxidant, and electrochemical sensor studies.