Green microwave synthesis of ZnO/polymer nanohybrids: structural, bioactivity, and theoretical BSA docking studies

Herein, the microwave method of synthesising ZnO/pectin and ZnO/polyethelene glycol nanohybrid composites using Clitoria ternate flower extract has been synthesised and evaluated by spectral and biological methods_. The spectral characterization of ZnO nanoparticles and their composites was performed using FTIR, XRD, TGA, UV, SEM-EDX, and TEM, whereas biological evaluation was performed using antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant studies. The potential cytotoxicity against the HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line showed an inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 22.7 ± 0.05 µg/mL. ZnO nanoparticles and polymer nanocomposites synthesized via green microwave processing with C. ternatea extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 11-22 mm for E. coli and 6-19 mm for S. aureus (ZnO/pectin showed superior efficacy). Similar trends were observed in antibiofilm, antioxidant, antifungal, and anticancer assays, with ZnO/pectin achieving an IC₅₀ of 22.7 ± 0.05 µg/mL against HT-29 cells.