MoS2 and MoSe2 2D nanosheets-based supramolecular nanostructure scaffold-capped Ag-NPs: exploring their morphological, anti-bacterial, and anticancer properties

Abstract

Different nanostructural composites-capped silver nanoparticles (i.e., Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoX₂, where X = S, Se) were explored. Nanocomposites comprising a two-dimensional (2D) metal dichalcogenides (i.e., MoS₂, MoSe₂, and MoS₂–MoSe₂) nanosheets-dispersed supramolecular hydrogel (SHGel) structure were used as stabilizing agents of silver nanoparticles synthesized through direct exposure to sunlight without use of external reducing chemicals under atmospheric conditions. The morphological uniqueness of individual nanocomposite-capped Ag-NPs was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy associated with TEM revealed elemental-level confirmation of formation of Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoX₂ with distinct nano-stabilizing agents composed of 2D nanosheets of MoS₂-, MoSe₂-, and combined MoS₂–MoSe₂-dispersed gel-nanocomposites. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of these composite-capped Ag-NPs was undertaken. The bioactivity of three diverse Ag-NPs (i.e., Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS₂, Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoSe₂, and Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS₂–MoSe₂) was surveyed. The antibacterial properties of three Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoX₂ were experimentally tested employing Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae. The anticancer activity of Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS₂, Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoSe₂, and Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS₂–MoSe₂ against the human adenocarcinomic alveolar cell line (A549) was also revealed.