SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW GRAPHENE NANOCOMPOSITES AND STUDY OF THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIFUNGAL AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Abstract: Oncology extensively uses nanographene, an inorganic nanocomposite material, because of its ability to deliver drugs, its adaptability, and its photothermal and photodynamic effects. However, the restricted use of the abovementioned features limits its current use. This is mainly because graphene oxide nanoparticles’ physical and chemical characteristics are poorly understood. Two nanocomposites, R1, were formed by reacting graphite nanocellulose with prepared triazole nanocellulose, and R2, by reacting graphene oxide with graphene triazole nanocellulose. Ultrasound and dioxane were used as solvents in both methods. The nanoscale properties of the composites were verified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The bacterial susceptibility of the composites was tested against two types of gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli, using the antibiotic ampicillin as a control sample. The composites had a high inhibitory activity compared to the antibiotic. The effect of the composites on a type of fungus, Candida albicans, was also investigated, using the antibiotic itraconazole as a control sample. The composites demonstrated inhibitory activity. Higher fungal activity than antibiotics, and the anticancer activity was tested against MCF-7 breast cancer cells at five concentrations (31.2, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 micrograms/ml), showing good inhibitory activity.